A questionable registration on Friday dashed those hopes, but all signs point to Murray returning sooner rather than later.
“The ball bounces off his hand,” Gannon said of the way Murray looks in practice. “He’s explosive getting out of the pocket. He’s accurate, has a good command of the offense now. He threads the needle pretty well on some certain throws.”
The Cardinals are apparently taking it easy on Murray, who suffered a torn ACL on Dec. 12, 2022. The 26-year-old remains on the physically unable to perform list a week after the team designated him to return to practice on Oct. 18 .
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported this week that Murray’s return is expected to happen either Nov. 5 on the road in Cleveland or in the Nov. 12 home game against the Falcons.
Joshua Dobbs’ ample play in Murray’s absence has allowed Arizona to be patient with its quarterback but has only gotten the team so far. Although the Cardinals (1-6) have managed just one win through seven weeks, Gannon’s team has been a resilient team that has suffered three of its losses in one-goal games.
Murray could be the missing link on a team that has seen wide receivers Marquise Brown (32 receptions, 383 yards, three touchdowns) and rookie Michael Wilson (27/343/2) show promise in offensive coordinator Drew Petzing’s 2023 scheme.
Arizona will have to wait at least one more week to see what the future of the offensive line really looks like with Murray under center.