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josh weinfuss
Tempe, Arizona — Arizona Cardinals quarterback kyler murray Coach Jonathan Gannon said Wednesday that he will remain on injured reserve as he continues to rehabilitate a foot injury suffered in Week 5.
The injury is not season-ending, Gannon said. If Murray’s leg heals, he may have a chance to return.
“I really do [hope that happens],” Gannon said. “We’ve got a lot of balls to play for, and one day at a time. And where he sits right now, he’s got to put it in his health bucket and get ready to get healthy.”
Murray will be out for at least the next four weeks, Jacoby Brissett Will remain the Cardinals’ starter kedon slovis As his backup. Gannon said the Cardinals would consider adding another quarterback.
“Jacoby does his thing, takes it one day at a time, prepares when he wasn’t the starter, prepares to be the starter,” Gannon said. “He knows his role may change, and now he’s going to prepare that way.”
Murray will be eligible to return in Week 14 Los Angeles Rams (7 December).
The decision to put Murray on IR came together Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, Gannon said. This was a collective decision between the team and Murray and his representatives.
In the end, Gannon said, it was the best thing for Murray and the team.
“He’s not completely healthy, ready to go right now, so that’s what matters most,” Gannon said. “Obviously it’s a change, but we just felt. Looking at it right now, it’s the best thing for them and us.
“He’s fully committed. Right now, the only thing he’s going to focus on is getting healthy. He’s not healthy enough to play. He needs to get healthy so he can start playing football.”
After several weeks of uncertainty about whether Murray would be healthy to play, Gannon said that the decision to place Murray on injured reserve was based on the information the team currently had.
Gannon said it would be “very fair” to say that Murray’s return from his foot injury was more difficult for him than other quarterbacks who do not rely on their legs to make plays like Murray.
“Obviously, for him, it prevents him from being completely healthy to go play, and him, as a person and as a player, yes,” Gannon said. “And you can look at other things, like for other guys it might not hurt, but he’s played through some things that guys at other positions, if they have them, they can’t play with them because of what they’re asked to do.”
Gannon said Murray took the news “as well as you can” and said the quarterback is in a good place to focus on his rehabilitation.
