The 1-5 Arizona Cardinals have struggled this season and are looking to get only their second win of the NFL season on Sunday afternoon. Will they be able to try with the benefit of having their starting quarterback Kyler Murray under center for the first time this season?
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Is Kyler Murray Playing in Week 7?
There are question marks about Murray’s availability for this week’s matchup and if he will make his debut in Week 7.
Murray has been on injured reserve (IR) for all of the 2023 season so far, as he tore his ACL late last season and has been working to get back ever since.
This week, a positive development happened for Murray and the team as the Cardinals opted to open his 21-day practice window to get him on the field with the team for the first time since last year.
While Murray’s long-term future and his time in Arizona is up for debate at this point, in the short term, will he have a chance to make his season debut on Sunday?
Despite the opening of his practice window this week, the Cardinals have officially ruled out Murray for Sunday’s Week 7 road matchup against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. For at least one more week, it will be Joshua Dobbs under center once again for the Cardinals looking to bounce back and find their second win of the season.
As of right now, there is no concrete timeline for when Murray is expected back into the lineup. The Cardinals have had a rough season with little hope for a playoff run, and they do not want to rush him back into action after his ACL tear in Week 14 of last season.
Murray’s Future in Arizona Is Unclear
There is a real chance that Murray never suits up in Arizona again, and it has nothing to do with his health. With new leadership controlling the team, the belief is that the team may opt to go in a different direction after this season and turn their focus to the upcoming NFL Draft to potentially find their next starting quarterback.
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Murray’s $18 million salary and $11.9 million roster bonus in 2025 is guaranteed for injury. What that means is that if Murray cannot pass a physical between the end of the season and the start of the new league year next March.
The Cardinals have until the fifth day of the 2024 league year to release Murray to prevent that injury guarantee from becoming fully guaranteed. Releasing Murray prior to that date will ensure that Arizona has an $81.521 million cap hit to swallow.
The Cardinals could release Murray with a post-June 1 designation to spread that number between 2024 and 2025 for cap purposes. Doing so would mean Murray carries a cap number of $51.857 million until June 1. That would then reduce to $48.307 million for the 2024 season itself and further count $33.214 million in 2025.
Kyler Murray’s return holds a $29.9 million financial risk for the Arizona Cardinals:https://t.co/QM7H5x7eyL
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 22, 2023
There is a lot that needs to be sorted out in the next six months when it comes to Murray and his future. And while it looks like he may be nearing a return to the field physically, everything else surrounding him and his career looks less concrete at this time.