Kyler Murray Injury Update: Cardinals QB’s Expected Return Date, Fantasy Impact & What It Means for Arizona

Kyler Murray’s spot atop the Arizona Cardinals’ depth chart has never felt shakier. Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed on Tuesday that veteran Jacoby Brissett will start Sunday’s Week 10 clash with the Seattle Seahawks, keeping Murray on the sideline for at least one more game as he nurses a lingering foot sprain the club originally hoped would heal weeks ago. Murray, 28, was de-activated minutes before Monday night’s 27-17 upset of the Dallas Cowboys and watched Brissett steer a turnover-free attack that generated 261 passing yards, two touchdowns and a season-best 7.9 yards per play. The decision to ride the “hot hand,” as Gannon described it, comes despite the coach’s repeated assertions that Murray remains the starter “when healthy.” Injury timeline and latest update • Murray first sprained his right foot in Week 5 against Tennessee. • ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the quarterback could need four-to-eight weeks to regain full explosiveness. • He has practiced on a limited basis since Oct. 25 but still lacks lateral burst, according to team sources. Why Arizona is sticking with Brissett for now 1. Offensive rhythm: With Brissett, the Cardinals are averaging 25.7 points and 357 total yards; with Murray, those figures dip to 18.8 and 288.4. 2. Turnover margin: Brissett has thrown one interception in three starts; Murray had six in five. 3. Locker-room confidence: Multiple veterans told local reporters the cadence and tempo under Brissett “feel smoother,” a subtle vote of confidence in the 32-year-old placeholder. Contract and cap implications The quarterback dilemma is not just about ankles and X’s-and-O’s—it’s about accounting. Murray is owed a fully-guaranteed $39 million base salary in 2026 plus roster bonuses that push his practical guarantees to $92 million. Releasing him next March would slam Arizona’s books with roughly $58 million in dead money, per Spotrac calculations. That makes a trade scenario—however remote—more logical than an outright cut, but rival executives are wary of the injury history and cost. What Murray’s benching means for the 2025 season • NFC West playoff math: At 4-5, Arizona is one game out of the final Wild-Card spot. The Seahawks, Rams and 49ers all own tiebreakers over the Cards, magnifying every decision at quarterback. • Scheme evolution: Coordinator Drew Petzing has quietly installed more under-center looks and heavier personnel packages to suit Brissett’s timing-based style; Murray’s return would trigger yet another schematic pivot. • Off-season crossroads: If Brissett continues to thrive, Arizona could explore drafting a developmental passer in April while shopping Murray before his $36 million 2026 salary becomes fully guaranteed next March. Key dates to watch • Week 10 vs. Seahawks (Nov 10) – Brissett’s fourth consecutive start. • Week 12 bye – natural window for a potential Murray return if mobility improves. • Feb 13, 2026 – the fifth-day-of-league-year trigger for Murray’s 2026 guarantees. Bottom line Kyler Murray’s future in the desert hinges on two variables he cannot fully control right now: the health of his foot and the play of Jacoby Brissett. If Brissett keeps stacking wins, Arizona’s front office may face the most expensive quarterback decision in franchise history. For now, the Cardinals are preaching patience publicly, but every snap Murray misses nudges the organization closer to a franchise-altering choice.