The Arizona Cardinals continue to delay the inevitable when it comes to Kyler Murray’s future - but the clock is ticking. With the former No. 1 overall pick still on injured reserve, the team has once again hit pause on a major organizational decision: is Murray still the long-term answer under center in the desert?
Head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed this week that Murray’s practice window won’t open just yet, meaning the two-time Pro Bowler remains sidelined as he recovers from a foot injury suffered back on October 5 in a loss to the Titans. It’s been nearly two months since Murray last suited up, and while his absence has left the offense in the hands of veteran Jacoby Brissett, it’s also left the franchise in a holding pattern - one that can’t last forever.
Once Murray is medically cleared, the Cardinals will be forced to confront a reality that’s been looming all season. If they choose to stick with Brissett over a healthy Murray, it won’t just be a football decision - it’ll be a franchise-defining signal. One that suggests the Murray era in Arizona is nearing its end.
And that’s no small statement. This is a player who was once positioned as the face of the franchise - a dual-threat quarterback with electric playmaking ability, a former Offensive Rookie of the Year, and a Pro Bowler in back-to-back seasons.
But that trajectory has stalled. Whether it’s due to injuries, inconsistency, or the team’s broader struggles, Murray hasn’t taken that next step toward elite status.
And the Cardinals, sitting at 3-9, are stuck in the same rut.
There’s an argument to be made that a clean break might be the best move for both sides. A trade feels like a matter of “when,” not “if,” especially with the NFL offseason always ripe for quarterback movement. But before any of that can happen, Murray has to get back on the field - and Arizona still has four more games to play in the 2025 season.
For now, the focus is short-term. Murray will remain inactive for at least another week, and Brissett will continue leading the offense as the Cardinals prepare to host the 9-3 Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. The Rams, coming off a tough loss, figure to be locked in and motivated - not exactly the ideal opponent for a struggling Arizona team trying to find its footing.
But the real story continues to simmer beneath the surface: what happens when Kyler Murray is healthy again? That decision - whether to play him, bench him, or move on entirely - could reshape the Cardinals’ future. And it’s coming sooner than later.