TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray still has not fully recovered from a foot injury and will not start Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys, head coach Jonathan Gannon said Saturday. Jacoby Brissett will make his third consecutive start as the Cardinals try to break a five-game losing streak.
Gannon said this was a health decision based on Murray’s recent work in practice. He added that the staff would continue to evaluate Murray the next two days to see if the seventh-year quarterback could have a role against the Cowboys.
“He’s been pushing, we’ve been pushing,” Gannon told reporters. “He is getting better. He’s had some more work this last week, but he’s just not ready to go yet. … I know he wants to be out there and he’s doing everything he can.”
Murray injured his foot Oct. 5 in a home loss to the Tennessee Titans. He initially left the game but returned after a quick visit to the locker room. Brissett started in place of Murray the next two weeks, against Indianapolis and Green Bay. Although the Cardinals lost both games, the offense showed more explosiveness. Arizona posted a season-high 400 yards in a 31-27 loss to the Colts and 330 in a 27-23 loss to the Packers.
Brissett’s poise, command and ability to pass downfield prompted a quarterback controversy of sorts. In five games under Murray, the No. 1 pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Cardinals posted six plays of 20-plus yards. Brissett had seven against the Colts alone.
The Cardinals’ losing streak has placed them at the bottom of the NFC West. Coming off a bye week, Murray was expected to return against Dallas as Gannon said the Cardinals were preparing for Murray to start. Gannon said the Cardinals do not plan to put the quarterback on injured reserve.
The Cardinals have struggled offensively for the bulk of the season. Built to run the football, they have had trouble doing so. Entering Sunday, the Cardinals, who have lost top back James Conner to a season-ending injury, rank 20th in average rushing yards at 110.4 per game. (They were seventh last season.) Consistent pass protection also has been a problem. Through seven games, Arizona has allowed 24 sacks, seventh most in the league.
In five starts, Murray has completed 68.3 percent of his attempts for 962 yards and six touchdowns with three interceptions. In his 10th season, Brissett has completed 64.2 percent of his attempts for 599 yards and four touchdowns with an interception.