Kyler Murray is not expected to play Sunday with the Arizona Cardinals prepared to start quarterback Colt McCoy for a third consecutive game, according to reports.
McCoy was injured last week but his pectoral strain didn’t keep him out of practice as Arizona (8-2) prepared for its trip to Seattle (3-6).
Murray has not played this month and was limited in practice by an ankle injury. Sitting him for a third consecutive game, coupled with a bye in Week 12, would give the Cardinals a full month to rest their MVP candidate.
It marks the third straight week in which Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury has viewed the star quarterback as a game-day decision. Murray was injured during a loss to the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 28.
“He definitely progressed,” Kingsbury said. “So we want to make sure that he’s in a place where he can play his game, protect himself and do all the things, and if he can, he’ll be out there.”
Murray has struggled to rediscover “the acceleration stuff that really makes him who he is at times,” according to Kingsbury.
“He’s got to be able to use that to get away, escape trouble, the things that he does naturally and instinctively,” Kingsbury said. “So we’re still trying to get to that point.”
Murray was a leading MVP candidate before the injury. He has completed an NFL-best 72.7 percent of his passes for 2,276 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions and also has rushed for three scores.
“We’d love to have Kyler,” rookie wideout Rondale Moore said. “We love Colt. Whoever is back there, I think the plan stays the same.”
The Cardinals are 1-1 with McCoy as the starter. He has completed 33 of 46 passes for 356 yards with one TD and one interception.
–Field Level Media
