The Arizona Cardinals are officially hitting pause on the Kyler Murray show. On Wednesday, the team placed their star quarterback on injured reserve, a move that’ll keep him sidelined for at least four more games while he nurses a nagging foot injury.
If you’ve been keeping tabs on the Cardinals’ quarterback carousel, this shouldn’t come as a total shock. Murray has been dealing with a mid-foot sprain since Week 5, when he gutted through a win against the Tennessee Titans despite the injury. He finished that game, but sometimes toughness only gets you so far when your foot is screaming at you.
Brissett Takes the Reins
Enter Jacoby Brissett, who’s been holding down the fort admirably. The veteran backup has started Arizona’s last three games, including Monday night’s 27-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys that probably had Jerry Jones rethinking some life choices. Brissett will continue as the starter for at least the next month, beginning with Sunday’s matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
Head Coach Jonathan Gannon had already named Brissett the starter for Week 10 on Tuesday, so Wednesday’s IR designation simply made it official. No more will-he-won’t-he speculation, no more game-time decision drama. Brissett’s your guy through the end of November.
What This Means For Murray’s Season
Here’s where things get interesting, and not in the fun way if you’re a Cardinals fan. Murray will miss at least four games due to the IR rules, but his foot has been bothering him for over a month now. The Cardinals clearly decided that rushing him back wasn’t worth the risk of a more serious setback.
Gannon did leave the door slightly ajar for a late-season return, suggesting Murray has a shot at coming back this year. Circle December 7 on your calendars, Cardinals. That is the earliest Murray could potentially return, coincidentally against the Los Angeles Rams. Whether that happens depends on how his foot responds to treatment and rest.
The Silver Lining
If there’s any consolation for Arizona, it’s that Brissett has proven he can manage games effectively. The Cardinals are 1-2 in his three starts, and while he won’t wow you with Murray’s explosive playmaking ability, he’s providing the steady hand this team needs while their franchise quarterback heals properly.
The Cardinals are playing the long game here, prioritizing Murray’s health for what they hope will be a playoff push down the stretch. Sometimes the smartest move is the most painful one in the short term.
