Arizona Cardinals forced to delete post after Kyler Murray decision
The Arizona Cardinals were forced to delate a Texas-related Kyler Murray social media post after the team decided to start backup Jacoby Brissett against the Dallas Cowboys
The Arizona Cardinals' social media administrator seemingly expected that opening-day starting quarterback Kyler Murray would be ready to start on Monday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys.
The team posted a graphic of Murray's stats while he was the quarterback for Allen High School, with the caption, "Back to some home roots for K1." In high school, Murray had a 43-0 record with over 10,000 passing yards and 186 total touchdowns.
Murray missed Arizona's last two games with a foot injury and was always rushing to play this week against Dallas. Backup Jacoby Brissett stepped in and played well, though the Cardinals didn't manage to win.
Murray was in contention to return from injury this week against Dallas — head coach Jonathan Gannon indicated as such late in the week — before naming Brissett as the starter on Sunday. The team then removed the Allen High School stats graphic across social platforms.
"He is getting better," Gannon said on Saturday.. "He's had some more work this last week, but like I said, he's just not ready to go yet."
The Cardinals coach teased that Murray may be healthy enough to feature in a bit-part gig. "But as far as, obviously, that position's a little bit different because you've got to have a plan ready. That's why I'm just saying Jacoby's starting, but if [Murray] can have a role, he can have a role, but you take it one day at a time."
Murray, the first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has seen his early-career growth stall in recent seasons. The former Oklahoma quarterback won the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2019 before earning consecutive Pro Bowl nods in 2020 and 201.
He's battled with health and a rotating supporting cast in the years since, and the Cardinals have failed to put up a record over .500 since 2021.
Brissett, a former mid-round pick by the New England Patriots, nearly led a 2-5 Arizona team to back-to-back road upsets over the juggernaut Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers, respectively.
READ MORE: CJ Stroud concussion latest as Texans QB forced out of game after awkward hitREAD MORE: Packers-Panthers brought to sudden halt as referee forced to sprint across field"We're right there," Brissett said Saturday about his team. "But when you look at the film and you see plays in these critical situations where we know that we can close the gap, I think that's the thing that we're looking forward to doing this week."
Murray isn't the only player missing for the Cardinals. Top running backs James Connor and Trey Benson remain out, and star rookie cornerback Will Johnson is questionable.