The Seattle Seahawksâ defensive plan just changed. Arizona Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said Tuesday heâll stick with veteran Jacoby Brissett as his starting quarterback for Sundayâs trip to Lumen Field, while Kyler Murray continues to recover from a foot injury, according to multiple reports.Â
The decision comes one day after Brissett led Arizona to a 27â17 road win over the Dallas Cowboys, ending a five-game skid. Brissett completed 21 of 31 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns; he also added a rushing score in the prime-time victory.
Murrayâs status helps explain the call. The former No. 1 pick has consulted multiple doctors and was told his recovery timetable ranges from four to eight weeks, with an elevated risk of setback until the foot fully heals. The extra time is intended to stabilize the injury, even as Gannon praised how the offense is operating with Brissett.Â
Arizonaâs public stance remains that Murray is the starter when healthy, but for now the job is Brissettâs in Seattle. Team and national outlets aligned on that Tuesday, removing any lingering ambiguity for Week 10.
What It Means for Mike Macdonaldâs Defense
GettyJacoby Brissett will provide a significantly different approach for the Cardinals than what the Seahawks would have prepared for with incumbent starter Kyler Murray out.
From Seattleâs side, this is a different look than the Cardinalsâ offense the Seahawks saw earlier in the season, a game they won 23-20 in Arizona. Brissett is a rhythm passer who protects the ball and leans on the quick game and play-action to stay on schedule. He just showed that in Dallas, distributing to Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride while avoiding the big mistake that had plagued Arizona during its skid.
Mike Macdonald has recent tape against Brissett, too. As a Patriots starter in 2024, Brissett gave a Macdonald defense a competitive game â something folks in Seattle noted when news broke that Arizona would stay with the veteran. Expect a plan heavy on disguised coverages and post-snap rotation to take away Brissettâs first read.
Where Murray stresses defenses with off-script runs and vertical shot plays, Brissett tends to work inside the structure and on time. That puts emphasis on Seattleâs interior pressure and underneath tackling, particularly against McBride on crossers and Harrison Jr. on in-breakers. The Seahawksâ corners must also be ready for back-shoulder throws that Brissett likes in the red zone. (He hit one to Harrison Jr. during the Dallas win.)Â
The Matchup Context
GettyThe Seattle defense will look to feast on Jacoby Brissett, and put together another solid performance on Sunday.
Seattle enters the week tied atop the NFC West and gets Arizona on a short week after the Cardinalsâ Monday night road game. The Seahawks won the first meeting behind a defense that tightened in the second half, but theyâll see a steadier hand under center this time. Oddsmakers opened with Seattle favored at home; that likely holds with Brissett in rather than a fully healthy Murray.
For Seattle, the keys donât change: win on early downs to put Brissett behind the sticks, rally-tackle to limit YAC, and force Arizona into longer third downs where Macdonald can heat up the pocket. One takeaway can flip this game. Brissett hasnât made many mistakes during this stint, but pressure up the gut â and patience in coverage â can bait a throw late in the down.Â
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