Year 3 under Jonathan Gannon hasn’t gone as planned for the Arizona Cardinals.
In 2024, the team went 8-9 behind an improved defense. Investments on that side of the ball via free agency and the draft had the team poised to make another jump in a competitive NFC West.
Instead, the team sits 3-9 and firmly last in what’s been the most competitive division in the league. Injuries have taken a toll on the team – especially on offense. James Conner, the team’s leading rusher in each of the last four seasons, suffered a season-ending injury in Week 3. Franchise quarterback Kyler Murray’s foot injury in Week 5 kept him out of the starting lineup and eventually caused a move to injured reserve (IR).
Gannon revealed today Murray won’t take the field again this season.
“(Murray) had some more tests done this week,” Gannon said. “Went out of state, got another opinion on it. It’s not progressing where it’s gonna make sense that he can go. So he’s gonna be done for the year.”
Week 14 was the earliest he could return from IR. Veteran Jacoby Brissett’s started in Murray’s place this season and performed well. In seven starts, he’s averaging 312.6 passing yards per game – up from Murray’s 192.4 in five starts.
Brissett’s gone 1-6 as a starter with the lone win coming against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9. Arizona’s lost close battles to Jacksonville and Tampa Bay in Week 12 and Week 13, respectively, despite Brissett’s production.
Gannon was asked about Murray’s future and if he expects the former No. 1 overall pick to be the team’s starting quarterback in 2026.
“I’m worried about the Rams right now,” Gannon said. He did add that he feels bad for Murray in this situation.
‘He got hurt and he wasn’t healthy enough to play. That’s first and foremost. That’s where I would leave it right now.’
Arizona hosts Los Angeles this week for the first of their two divisional games against the team. The Cardinals are 0-4 in NFC West play this year with two losses each to the 49ers and Seahawks. They’re already eliminated from playoff contention in the NFC ahead of the final five games of their season.
When will Kyler Murray return?
There are no signs this foot injury will be a multi-year injury so Murray should be healthy for the 2026 season. Whether he remains with the Cardinals or ends up elsewhere is yet to be determined.
Murry has three years left on his current contract extension. It’d cost the Cardinals $54.718 million in dead cap space to release him this upcoming offseason, per OverTheCap. That number balloons to $80 million if the team waits until 2027 to release him.
A trade seems more likely if the team decides to move on from him but that could get tricky with his contract as well. A potential team would likely negotiate a certain amount of the contract to be split between them and the Cardinals for Arizona to move off from their starting quarterback.
Arizona Cardinals remaining schedule
Week 14:vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week 15:at Houston Texans
Week 16:vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 17:at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 18:at Los Angeles Rams