Cardinals rule out Kyler Murray for season; future in doubt

Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray's season is over, igniting debate about whether he might ever play in Arizona again.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon did not commit to Murray when asked if he'd be the team's quarterback in 2026.

"I'm worried about the Rams," Gannon said Friday before Arizona's final practice prior to the Week 14 game against Matthew Stafford and Los Angeles (9-3) in Glendale, Ariz.

Out since Oct. 5 with a foot injury, Murray is on injured reserve but the door was left open for his possible return next week. That speculation was muted Friday when Gannon confirmed Murray is done for the year.

"Kyler will not play again this year," Gannon said Friday. "He had some more tests done this week, went out of state, got another opinion on it. It's not progressing where it's going to make sense that he can go."

Gannon publicly remained committed to Murray having the quarterback job most of October and November when pressed by media about the situation.

Murray created a stir Thursday night when he posted a video to TikTok with the phrase "weird year" over a photo of a shirtless Murray walking off the football field. The caption below the image read "Never again."

As for where the Cardinals stand on Murray's future, Gannon said the franchise is focused on Murray's health.

"I just feel bad for the quarterback. He got hurt," Gannon said. "Wasn't healthy enough to play. That's first and foremost. That's where I would leave it right now."

Jacoby Brissett is starting in Murray's place but isn't viewed as a long-term option.

Whether Murray still fits that description is open to discussion. He's 28 and has four 20-TD seasons. He played well enough for the Cardinals to compete before his Oct. 5 injury in a loss to the Tennessee Titans.

He had six touchdown passes and three interceptions in five games in 2025.

The first player in league history with 70 TD passes and 20 rushing touchdowns before the end of his third season, Murray was the No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft and Offensive Rookie of the Year with Kliff Kingsbury calling the shots.

Injury history and team success are factors the Cardinals likely will consider before deciding when to write his next check.

He played in all 17 games in 2024 but a total of 13 in 2023 (eight) and 2025 (five).

Moving on from Murray comes at a steep cost. Releasing him outright comes with a cap charge over $55 million and all of his guaranteed $36.7 million salary in 2026.

Trading him activates guarantees in 2027 -- starting with a base salary of $19.5 million -- for the acquiring team, unless the two sides reach a restructured, extended contract with even more promises to the player.

--Field Level Media