Gannon Says Cardinals Preparing Murray to Start vs. Cowboys

After two weeks on the sideline, Kyler Murray could be back in action. Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed Thursday that the team is preparing its star quarterback to start Monday night’s road game against the Dallas Cowboys — though he offered few specifics about Murray’s status.

When asked directly if Murray was expected to start, Gannon kept his response short and straightforward: “Yeah.” The 28-year-old quarterback has been sidelined since suffering a mid-foot sprain in the Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans but benefited from extra recovery time during Arizona’s bye week.

Cardinals Take a Cautious Approach with Murray’s Return

Despite Gannon’s confirmation, he avoided sharing details about Murray’s recovery, reiterating there’s no competitive advantage to withholding the starting designation. “Get him fully healthy, play,” Gannon said when asked about Murray’s remaining checkpoints.

Jacoby Brissett has started in Murray’s absence, throwing for over 279 yards in both outings while maintaining a 4:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Though efficient, Brissett couldn’t deliver wins, as Arizona dropped both games to fall to 2–5.

The bye week arrived at the right time for the injury-riddled Cardinals, who recently opened the practice window for key defenders like Walter Nolen, Garrett Williams, and BJ Ojulari. “They’re rested, and it looks a little bit different,” Gannon said. “So it was very beneficial.”

Arizona Seeking a Reset After Five Straight Close Losses

The Cardinals’ struggles have been defined by narrow heartbreak — five consecutive losses by a combined 13 points, including three walk-off field goals. Despite their record, Gannon believes the team’s effort hasn’t wavered.

“There’s no magic sauce,” he said. “Work, coach better, and play better. You can’t look into the future or back now. We are where we are, and our sole focus is trying to win a game.”

If Murray does return Monday, it’ll mark another homecoming for the Texas native. He’s undefeated at AT&T Stadium, posting a perfect record that dates back to his high school days. In two career wins there with the Cardinals, Murray has totaled four passing touchdowns and no interceptions.

A healthy Murray could reignite a stagnant Arizona offense and potentially spark a turnaround — beginning under the bright lights in Arlington.