Cardinals announce a change under center — will Kyler Murray start in Week 9?

2023-10-30 22:42:42

The Arizona Cardinals have seen enough out of quarterback Joshua Dobbs as franchise signal-caller Kyler Murray nears his return to NFL action.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon on Monday announced that Arizona is going in a different direction for its Week 9 contest in Cleveland. Dobbs will sit following the Cardinals‘ 31-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday — and Murrayat least according to the coach, has a chance to play in his first game since last December.

Dobbs done as the starter

After a promising start to the season in which he led the Cardinals to an upset win over the Dallas Cowboys, Dobbs has unraveled in recent weeks amid a slew of turnovers and an offense struggling to function as a whole.

Dobbs threw two more interceptions in Sunday’s loss to the Ravensbringing his total to five over the past four games alone. He has fumbled the ball in each of Arizona‘s past five games and has lost four fumbles in eight games — turnovers that have become magnified without a workhorse running back behind him, such as the injured James Conner.

The turnover problems have gotten to a point where Gannon is likely to hand the reins to Clayton Tune when the Cardinals visit the Browns in Week 9 action. Tunea fifth-round draft pick this year, has yet to take an NFL snap — but as Murray ramps up into game shape, Tune will get his chance once morest Cleveland‘s excellent defense.

A moment that made Joshua Dobbs a fan favorite in Arizona

Josh Dobbs finally gets his own jersey from Arizona Cardinals.Josh Dobbs / TikTok

Kyler’s return is close

Although the Cardinals are expected to dance to a different Tune once morest Clevelandit’s generally accepted that Murray won’t be on the shelf for much longer.

The two-time Pro Bowler Murray has been an active practice participant following months of grueling rehab from his knee injury. If he is named the starter once morest AtlantaMurray will get to play in as many as eight games — the entire second half of the season — as Arizona determines its future direction at quarterback.

If Murray impresses under a new coaching staff, the Cardinals may actively shop the #1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft if they finish with the league’s worst record. If Murray struggles to shake off the rust, then chatter regarding Caleb Williams in the desert will get louder and louder.

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