The Arizona Cardinals are playing for pride and a top 2024 draft pick at this point in the season with their 3-10 record.
The team will also be closely evaluating the play of quarterback Kyler Murray down the stretch – especially if the team covets one of the rookie prospects at the top of the draft.
Murray picked up a thumb injury this past week, which casted doubt on his status for Week 15.
The quarterback logged two full practices, though, and head coach Jonathan Gannon said Murray is “good to go” for the game against the San Francisco 49ers and that his practice designations were more “maintenance” than anything else, according to PHNX Sports’ Bo Brack.
"He's good to go."
Arizona Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon has no concerns about QB Kyler Murray's thumb that landed him on the injury report. JG calls the designation "maintenance" more than anything.@PHNX_Cardinals | #BirdGang pic.twitter.com/4YgPBYtR9t
— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) December 15, 2023
Murray has been solid in his return from a torn ACL: He’s completed 60.8 percent of his passes for 864 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions with 106 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in four games.
Though the Cardinals haven’t won much this season, Murray did lead them to two wins over playoff contenders – a Week 10 win over win over the Atlanta Falcons and a Week 13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers – before the team’s bye this past week.
A divisional match against the NFC-leading San Francisco 49ers awaits, though.
Murray is 2-3 in five career games against San Francisco, though he hasn’t played against the 49ers since 2021 when he led the Cardinals to a 17-10 win.
This will be Murray’s chance to prove to the new regime he can play well against elite teams, even with a minor injury.
The Cardinals will have four more games – including this one – before they can start to make a decision on Murray’s future with the team.
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