In a surprising move, Jonathan Gannon, head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, has announced that Kyler Murray will remain the team’s starting quarterback despite the impressive performances of Jacoby Brissett over the past three games. Gannon's decision comes after Brissett led the Cardinals to a convincing 27-17 victory against the Dallas Cowboys on “Monday Night Football,” following two narrow losses to the Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers.
Despite Brissett's recent success, Gannon emphasized that “nothing’s changed” regarding the Cardinals' quarterback situation. When asked about his reasoning behind this decision, he simply stated, “that’s just how I feel.” This declaration raises questions about the future of the team, especially with Murray recovering from a foot sprain he sustained in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans.
Kyler Murray missed two games and a bye week due to his injury before the game against Dallas. Although he returned to practice this week and was considered a potential contributor to the game, he ultimately ended up on Arizona’s inactive list. ESPN’s Adam Schefter has pointed out that this quarterback situation is one to monitor closely during the offseason, noting that Murray has two years remaining on his contract. On “The Pat McAfee Show,” Schefter remarked, “It’s not full-blown interesting, but it could be interesting this offseason.”
During the game, commentators Joe Buck and Troy Aikman expressed their views on the quarterback situation, suggesting that Brissett should take over as the full-time starter for the struggling 3-5 Cardinals. Buck stated, “I don’t know how you take (Brissett) off the field,” to which Aikman replied, “I don’t know that they will.”
While Brissett has indeed impressed this season, his track record as a career backup raises some concerns about his long-term viability as the franchise quarterback. The 32-year-old has played for a different team each of the past six seasons. However, he has shown promise this year, completing 73 of 112 passes for 860 yards, with six touchdowns and only one interception.
After the game, Brissett shared his thoughts on what has contributed to his success and his ability to maintain the starting position. “I just think it’s our team, it’s the offense,” he stated. “We’ve just done a good job of starting to grow together and just taking it one play at a time, one game at a time, one week at a time. I just couldn’t be more proud of those guys.” His leadership and teamwork were evident as he celebrated the win, which snapped a five-game losing streak for the Cardinals.
The Arizona Cardinals are set to face the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday, and the outcome will likely have significant implications for the team's future direction, particularly in the quarterback department. With both Murray and Brissett in the mix, fans will be keenly watching how Gannon navigates this challenging situation.
