All in all, the Cowboys‘ Week 9 opponent, the Cardinals, have not been a terrible team when quarterback Kyler Murray is healthy and productive. Problem is, he has not always been healthy and productive. In fact, he has played just 41 games over the last four seasons, and Arizona’s season very well may have turned when Murray hurt his foot in Week 5 while leading Tennessee, 21-6.
Backup Jacoby Brissett came in and the Cardinals blew that game with a loss to the otherwise winless Titans, and have since lost two more games, dropping to 2-5 on the season.
Coming out of the Week 8 bye, though, there was hope in Arizona that Murray might be ready to come back on Monday night against Dallas. And while it is possible he will play, coach Jonathan Gannon said on Saturday that Murray won’t be starting.
Kyler Murray is 8-0 on Cowboys Home Field
Murray has never lost at AT&T Stadium, going back to his high school days. He won three state championships when he was leading Allen High School, and was 5-0 in the Cowboys’ building during those runs. He won the Big 12 title with Oklahoma there in 2018, and has beaten the Cowboys twice in two tries as a visitor.
But Gannon explained he’s just not ready yet.
“Looking at the week of work today, Kyler is not going to be ready to start, so Jacoby will start,” Gannon said. “Obviously, we feel good about Jacoby. I do want to give it the next couple of days to see if Kyler could possibly have a role on game day, so that’s what that is.”
Slow-Healing Foot Injury Holding Kyler Murray Back
There’s some frustration with the hit-or-miss nature of Murray’s injury, and while no one is rooting for injuries, there’s no doubt there is a down mood around Arizona these days.
“Everyone’s different, every player, every injury’s unique,” Gannon said. “He’s been pushing, we’ve been pushing. He is getting better, he has had some more work this last week. But it is just not ready to go yet. Obviously, that position is a little different, because you’ve gotta have a plan. That’s why I am saying Jacoby’s starting, but if he can have a role, he can have a role. Take it one day at a time. I know he wants to be out there, he is just not ready to start.”
Cowboys Dealing With Secondary Injuries
Not having to face Murray, who threw for 962 yards and six touchdowns and ran for 173 yards and another touchdown in five games, could be a tonic for the struggling Cowboys defense, which is getting some reinforcements, but is still wracked by injuries. Brissett is a ball-control quarterback who is not likely to expose Dallas’ hurting secondary.
For the Cowboys, safeties Donovan Wilson and Alijah Clark are out, though Juanyeh Thomas is likely to play after dealing with migraines. Dallas has the No. 32-rated coverage unit in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.
The Cowboys will also be without linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who hopes to be back in Week 11, linebacker Jack Sanborn, who has a groin injury, and defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey who is coming back from an IR stint with a knee injury.
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