The Arizona Cardinals have officially declared that quarterback Kyler Murray is going on injured reserve (IR). In the meantime, he’ll now be concentrating on rehabbing a foot injury that he suffered in Week 5 of the NFL season. That decision required working hand in glove with Murray, his staff, and his negotiators. They want to make sure he’s completely healed before sending him back out on the field.
That decision was made in deliberations Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, he said. Though the news is great for the franchise, it’s worth acknowledging that Murray’s injury isn’t season-ending. Jonathan Gannon, head coach of the Cardinals, noted during the NFL Combine that Murray’s recovery comes with its own set of challenges. Unlike other quarterbacks who may not need to rely on their legs as much, Murray’s injury makes healing that much more difficult.
“He’s fully committed. Right now, what he’s going to concentrate on is getting healthy. He’s not healthy enough to play. He needs to get healthy so he can get back to playing football.” – Jonathan Gannon
Murray says he has received the news of going on IR “as well as you can take it. He’s staying positive and looking forward to getting back on the water. Still, Gannon says that Murray may be back as soon as Week 14. He will meet the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 7, assuming he shows significant progress along his road to recovery.
With Murray out, Jacoby Brissett will become the Cardinals’ starting quarterback for at least the next month. Gannon praised Brissett’s professionalism and work ethic, stating, “Jacoby does his job, takes it one day at a time, prepares when he wasn’t the starter, prepares to be the starter.” Newcomer Kedon Slovis will be the backup quarterback through this period.
The Cardinals have taken steps to bring in another quarterback, potentially to get someone on board to offer extra depth. Gannon reiterated that the team made the decision to place Murray on IR using the most recent information at hand. He pointed out that Murray is still not healthy enough to return to play just yet.
“Obviously, for him, it prevents him from being fully healthy to go play, and him, as the person that he is and the player that he is, yes,” – Jonathan Gannon
As the team navigates through this new transition, all eyes will be on Murray’s hopeful recovery and eventual return. The Cardinals aim to continue competing while ensuring their star quarterback is ready for a successful comeback.
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