Cardinals' Jonathan Gannon talks when Kyler Murray could play this season

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray returned to practice from the reserve/physically unable to perform list on Wednesday, which means Arizona will have 21 days to either activate Murray to the main roster or shut him down for the rest of the season. 

According to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN, Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters that when Murray plays will be an "organizational decision" following conversations that will include the 26-year-old. 

"Obviously, he's our franchise quarterback, so I was happy about it," Gannon said about the situation. 

Murray underwent ACL surgery that included some meniscus repair this past January before the Cardinals hired Gannon the following month. While some thought this summer that Arizona could sit Murray through Week 18 to keep the club's options open regarding the five-year contract extension worth $230.5M with $160M guaranteed he signed in July 2022, multiple reports have insisted everyone involved wants the first overall pick of the 2019 draft to play this season as soon as he's cleared. 

Arizona acquired journeyman Joshua Dobbs via a trade on Aug. 24, and he's performed admirably in Murray's place even though the Cardinals are 1-5 heading into this coming Sunday's game at the 3-2 Seattle Seahawks. Per ESPN stats, Dobbs ended Week 6 ranked 18th in the NFL among qualified players with a 48.8 adjusted QBR on the season. He tossed six touchdown passes and three interceptions across the campaign's first six games. 

"I know the work that he's put in, the people that have helped him get to this point -- you can't praise enough the whole medical staff, all that -- the performance staff, the doctors, all that stuff," Gannon added about Murray. "But he hasn't taken a snap in this offense, either. So, we got to see him do a lot of things. But I know he's excited to get out there and start playing some football."