When the Arizona Cardinals returned from their bye week to prepare for Monday’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, all eyes turned to one critical question: will star quarterback Kyler Murray take the field? His name surfaced on the team’s latest injury report, but the situation is layered with cautious optimism and lingering uncertainty as the team weighs its options.
Will Kyler Murray Be Ready for the Cowboys?
According to Thursday’s official injury report, Murray was listed as a limited participant in practice due to a foot injury. This update marks the first detailed information on his status since he missed practice time ahead of Week 7.
Despite the limited designation, head coach Jonathan Gannon offered a brief glimpse into the team’s mindset. Gannon explained that the key benchmark for Murray’s return is getting him “fully healthy to play.” When asked if the Cardinals are preparing their quarterback to start, he gave a short but telling answer: “Yeah.”
Murray was also limited in practice on Friday, and he is questionable for Week 9. Moreover, Jacoby Brisett “got the majority of snaps during the individual portion of drills,” which hints that he could start over Murray.
During the open portion of practice today, Jacoby Brissett got the majority of snaps during the individual portion of drills.
Kyler Murray was typically throwing to Xavier Weaver and Simi Fehoko, whereas Brissett was throwing to the top of the receivers depth chart. pic.twitter.com/vv8DkGHIkH
— Josh Weinfuss (@joshweinfuss) October 31, 2025
While that response has given fans hope, the bigger picture suggests that Arizona is still closely evaluating the situation. Before the bye, Murray missed two consecutive practices after injuring his foot in the loss to the Tennessee Titans. At the time, Gannon told reporters that the team was handling the issue “day by day.”
During the Titans game, Murray briefly exited after sustaining the injury but returned after missing only two snaps. Still, the problem was significant enough to sideline him during practices leading up to the Week 7 meeting with the Indianapolis Colts, a game he ultimately did not play in.
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If Murray is unavailable again, Brissett, who stepped in as relief against the Titans, remains the likely backup option. A statistical comparison between the two quarterbacks underscores what each brings to the table. According to PFSN’s QB Impact metric, Brissett currently holds an 82.8 (B-) impact score, ranking 10th among NFL quarterbacks, while Murray’s 75.2 (C) ranks 18th.
In four games this season, Brissett has completed 64.2% of his passes and averaged 149.7 passing yards per game, with four touchdowns and one interception. In contrast, Murray has played five games, posting a 68.3% completion rate and averaging 192.4 yards per game, with six touchdowns and three interceptions.
However, Murray’s mobility continues to distinguish him. He has rushed for 173 yards and one touchdown, compared to Brissett’s 47 rushing yards with no scores. Still, Brissett’s net yards per attempt (nYPA) of 6.8 surpasses Murray’s 5.3, reflecting a steadier passing efficiency.
Given Gannon’s measured tone and Murray’s limited practice participation, it appears the Cardinals are balancing the desire to get their star back on the field with the need to protect his long-term health. The fact that Gannon openly said they are preparing him to start indicates real progress, but until Murray logs a full practice, the situation remains fluid.
As the Cardinals inch closer to Monday night’s kickoff, all signs suggest cautious optimism rather than certainty. If Murray’s recovery stays on track through the weekend, he could be cleared to start against the Cowboys. However, Gannon has stressed that the team will only let him play once he is completely healthy.
