Arizona Cardinals

After missing the last two games with a hamstring injury, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is set to return on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers following a solid week of practice.

Murray went through his normal practice routine on Friday, and Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters he "looked sharp."

Kingsbury added there was talk about holding Murray out until after the team's Week 13 bye, but he said the veteran signal-caller was "anxious to get back and he feels great."

"I mean, he feels 100 percent. If there was anything less than that we would have maybe waited but he feels full go so we're gonna get him out there," Kingsbury added.

Murray suffered the hamstring injury in a Week 8 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He played through the ailment in a Week 9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks before missing a Week 10 win against the Los Angeles Rams and a Week 11 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

The Cardinals enter Sunday's game against the Chargers third in the NFC West with a 4-7 record. They are far from competing for a playoff spot and are on pace to miss the postseason for the sixth time in the last seven years.

That said, it's not impossible for Kingsbury's squad to make the postseason, and Murray's performance will be key in whether the team turns things around to compete for a playoff spot.

In nine games this season, Murray has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 2,168 yards and 12 touchdowns against six interceptions. He has also rushed for 359 yards and two scores.

In addition to Murray, Kingsbury expects wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown to return on Sunday from a foot injury that has sidelined him since a Week 6 loss to the Seahawks.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray will miss his second straight game because of the hamstring injury that has limited him all week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Colt McCoy will reportedly start for Arizona in Monday's game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Colt McCoy will definitively start tonight vs the #49ers, per league source.

It's been known since last week that Kyler Murray (hamstring) was not going to be scheduled to play today. The team was protecting its preparation vs San Francisco. #Cardinals.

— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) November 21, 2022

Murray also missed Week 10 against the Los Angeles Rams as the Cardinals earned a 27-17 win.

The 25-year-old has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 12 touchdowns (six interceptions) and 2,168 yards through nine games. He's also rushed for 359 yards and two scores.

Murray is in his fourth NFL season, all with the Cardinals, who selected the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.

He's proved to be an exciting dual-threat quarterback capable of breaking a game open at any time and making sensational plays on the run.

Murray is a two-time Pro Bowler and led the Cardinals to the playoffs for the first time since 2015 with an 11-6 campaign in 2021.

The former University of Oklahoma star and the Cardinals have fallen on tough times in 2022, though, with the team 3-6 through nine games. The defense has been troublesome (No. 29 in points allowed), but the team has been up-and-down overall.

After head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters that Murray would be a game-time decision for the Rams game because of the hamstring injury, he will miss a second game with the same injury.

Murray's backup is McCoy, a 36-year-old who has played 13 NFL seasons.

The Texas product stepped in for Murray for three games last season after the Cardinals starter suffered an ankle injury. He led the team to a 2-1 record while completing 75.6 percent of his passes for three touchdowns (one interception) and 684 yards.

The veteran tallied 238 passing yards and a touchdown with no interceptions against the Rams last week.

Trace McSorley, a former dual-threat star at Penn State, rounds out the Cardinals' quarterback depth chart.

Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt paid it forward, and the gesture ended up coming back to his foundation.

As Front Office Sports explained, Cardinals fan Joey Reyes fell just short of winning a $1,000 parlay bet placed on the team's game against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10. It appeared as if Watt was going to return a fumble for a touchdown during the game, which would have earned Reyes the win, but officials erroneously blew the play dead.

When Watt found out about the bet, he sent Reyes $1,000. Instead of keeping it, the fan doubled it and donated to the three-time Defensive Player of the Year's foundation:

On Sunday, Cardinals fan Joey Reyes missed out on a $1000 parlay after officials blew a potential JJ Watt TD dead.

Watt saw the bet, and he sent Joey $1000.

Instead of keeping the money, @JReyes192 has now matched the gift and donated it back to Watt's Foundation. pic.twitter.com/TAgH0ZL7j3

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) November 18, 2022

The play in question happened during the second quarter when Rams quarterback John Wolford fumbled on a sack. Watt picked the loose ball up and had nothing but space in front of him, but officials ruled the play dead and an incomplete pass.

While Arizona was rewarded with the fumble recovery upon review, Watt still missed his chance at a touchdown.

Fortunately for the Cardinals, they still scored a touchdown on the ensuing possession. And Watt's foundation may have been the biggest beneficiary of the entire sequence thanks to Reyes' generosity.

"Our mission is to provide after-school opportunities for middle-school aged children in the community to become involved in athletics, so that they may learn the character traits of accountability, teamwork, leadership, work ethic, and perseverance, while in a safe and supervised environment with their peers," Watt's foundation explains on its website.

Welcome to the HBO spotlight, Colt McCoy.

It was fitting that Wednesday's episode of Hard Knocks, which was the second one of the in-season, behind-the-scenes look at the Arizona Cardinals, opened with star quarterback Kyler Murray receiving treatment.

It was a reminder that the adversity from a slow start to the season that was the focus of the first episode was still very much present one week later.

Murray dealt with a hamstring injury, safety Budda Baker suffered a high ankle sprain and the offensive line had health concerns ahead of a matchup with Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams. Kelvin Beachum went to the hospital for what was feared to be appendicitis but ultimately wasn't, which led to some relief and jokes from teammates and coaches.

.@KelvinBeachumJr 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂....#HardKnocks @12SportsAZ pic.twitter.com/fEVdek0jUw

— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) November 17, 2022

grab your popcorn 🍿#HardKnocks In-Season is now streaming on @HBOMax pic.twitter.com/N8ZfQdvBqo

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 17, 2022

Damn, Beach.

Said he passed out this week due to some “itis” type thing and had to go to the ER. #HardKnocks

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) November 17, 2022

The season seemed to be slipping away for the Cardinals after a loss to the Seattle Seahawks dropped their record to 3-6, especially with all the health concerns.

But the urgency to turn things around stood out, whether it was Baker finding his way back onto the field much earlier than expected, new father J.J. Watt explaining what he went through to get back when his heart was shocked back into rhythm or McCoy demonstrating plenty of leadership in practice, film study and the quarterback room.

More McCoy "If we know what to do and if the spacing is right and you do your job, we will beat this team. We will beat anybody. That is the bottom line. So when we talk about, like, what can we do? It's these little details that are just adding up." (2/2) @12SportsAZ

— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) November 17, 2022

Enter: Colt McCoy #HardKnocks | @ColtMcCoy pic.twitter.com/rXwfO9qgXj

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) November 17, 2022

Colt McCoy was absolutely determined to get everyone on the same page last week. #HardKnocks

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) November 17, 2022

Colt McCoy burning up #HardKnocks

— Marc Sessler (@MarcSessler) November 17, 2022

Colt McCoy is so impressive his football IQ is off the charts what a leader. #HardKnocks

— Mike Jurecki (@mikejurecki) November 17, 2022

5 mins into Hard Knocks and my instant takeaway is that Colt McCoy has a good coaching career ahead of him.

— Jason Hayes (@JasonHayesNFL) November 17, 2022

Budda's back, tell a friend 🗣#HardKnocks | @Buddabaker3 pic.twitter.com/y55waisZ92

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) November 17, 2022

https://twitter.com/jhall_1906/status/1593085743844712449

.@JJWatt and family🌵 #HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/t7CuQZzNgJ

— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) November 17, 2022

That leadership translated to Sunday, as McCoy led the Cardinals to a 27-17 victory that changed the entire outlook of their season.

It proved to be a backup bowl, as John Wolford played for the injured Matthew Stafford on the other side. McCoy came out on top and went 26-of-37 for 238 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions, while James Conner scored two touchdowns on the ground.

The game stood out for more than just the result, as Cardinals associate head coach and wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson went up against his son, Van. That gave Hard Knocks the opportunity to provide one of the heart-touching moments the show is known for, but the attention eventually returned to football.

Nobody coaches you like your dad ♥

Shawn and Van Jefferson shared a heartfelt moment after facing off against each other. #HardKnocks In Season with the @AZCardinals continues Tonight at 10pm ET on @hbomax pic.twitter.com/GkUZDh83mR

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) November 16, 2022

“He got a ring! He got a ring!”

The joy on Shawn J.’s face is so awesome. #HardKnocks

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) November 17, 2022

Thanks to McCoy's effort, returns for Baker and Beachum, dominance from Watt, and strong play throughout the roster, the Cardinals are now 4-6 and have some momentum on their side heading into a divisional game against the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico on Monday Night Football.

Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz is expected to miss multiple weeks after being carted off the field during Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams in the first quarter with a knee injury, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Cardinals TE Zach Ertz, spotted in a brace after Arizona’s win, is expected to miss multiple weeks with the knee injury he suffered today, per source. The team does suspect that his ACL is intact, however. But Ertz will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine full extent of injury.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 14, 2022

Zach Ertz has been carted off the field.

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/jPGUT1fRPl

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 13, 2022

Ertz had one catch for 12 yards before exiting.

The 32-year-old veteran is in the midst of his 10th NFL campaign and his first full season with the Cardinals after spending the first nine years and 123 regular-season games of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Entering Sunday's game, Ertz had caught 46 passes for 394 yards and four touchdowns in nine games for the Cardinals this season.

While Ertz began the 2021 season with the Eagles and appeared in six games for Philly, he was traded to Arizona on Oct. 15, 2021, in exchange for a 2022 fifth-round pick and defensive back Tay Gowan.

He was highly effective for the Cards, recording 56 receptions for 574 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games.

Ertz was once among the top tight ends in the NFL, earning Pro Bowl nods in three straight seasons from 2017 to 2019. That run was part of a remarkable streak that saw him finish with at least 800 receiving yards in five straight seasons from 2015 to 2019.

During that five-year period, Ertz averaged 86.2 receptions for 914.4 yards and 5.6 touchdowns per season.

His best year came in 2018, when he set career highs across the board with 116 receptions for 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns.

Things fell apart for Ertz on multiple fronts in 2020, resulting in the worst statistical campaign of his career.

Ertz missed five games because of injury and wasn't particularly effective when he played, finishing with 36 receptions for 335 yards and just one touchdown.

The poor quarterback play of Carson Wentz did Ertz no favors last season, and his production didn't get any better when Jalen Hurts took over the starting job.

In addition to Ertz dealing with quarterback issues, he was the subject of trade rumors throughout the season because of his desire to move on.

The trade rumors followed him throughout the offseason, and it eventually came to pass after the Cards lost tight end Maxx Williams for the season with a knee injury.

Ertz's injury is a huge blow to an offense that was already missing quarterback Kyler Murray, who is out with a hamstring injury. Without Ertz, backup quarterback Colt McCoy is likely to primarily focus on distributing the ball to his strong group of wide receivers, including DeAndre Hopkins, Robbie Anderson, A.J. Green and Rondale Moore.

As far as the tight end position goes, look for Trey McBride and Stephen Anderson to take on increased responsibilities.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray's status for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams is up in the air.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters on Friday his star quarterback will be a game-time decision.

Murray is dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him out of Wednesday's practice. He did return to the practice field on a limited basis Thursday. The 25-year-old missed three games during the 2021 season, but he has been largely durable since the Cardinals selected him with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 NFL draft.

He was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in his first season and a Pro Bowl selection in his next two as someone who can hurt opposing defenses with his arm and legs.

The Oklahoma product has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 2,168 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions while adding 359 yards and two scores on the ground in nine games this season.

Arizona will take a step back offensively if Murray is sidelined, but it can at least take solace in the fact backup quarterback Colt McCoy is a veteran with plenty of experience.

He went 2-1 in three starts for the Cardinals last season and has also appeared in games for the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Washington and New York Giants throughout his career.

The Cardinals are fighting to stay in playoff contention with a 3-6 record heading into this week's showdown with the Rams.

The Arizona Cardinals will reportedly be without safety Budda Baker for multiple weeks.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday that Baker suffered a high-ankle sprain and that "the hope" is that the defensive playmaker will be back in two or three weeks. However, Rapoport noted his return will ultimately be decided "on the severity."

This is another setback for the Cardinals, who are trending in the wrong direction with losses in four of their last five games.

Arizona is just 3-6 on the campaign despite entering the season with hopes of contending in the NFC with Kyler Murray under center and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins set to return after a suspension that lasted the first six games.

Yet things are not going anywhere close to as planned, and now the defense will be without one of its best players in the immediate future.

Baker's resume includes four Pro Bowl nods and two first-team All-Pro selections. He has appeared in nine games this season with 71 tackles, two passes defended and one forced fumble. If he misses just a handful of games, he could be well on his way to posting more than 100 tackles for the fourth time in the last five years.

Arizona will face the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers in the next three games ahead of a bye, which is quite a daunting stretch.

Every loss makes the playoffs seem like even more of a longshot at this point, making its ability to play well even without Baker all the more imperative.

The Cardinals could turn toward Chris Banjo at safety to help cover for the starter's absence.

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner will not play against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday due to a rib injury, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Conner will miss his third consecutive game, paving the way for Eno Benjamin to once again lead the backfield.

Injuries have been an issue for Conner all year, as he previously suffered an ankle injury during a Week 2 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, but it was not believed to be a serious one and he played the next game.

The 27-year-old veteran entered the 2022 campaign coming off his second career Pro Bowl season. He tallied 752 rushing yards, 375 receiving yards and 18 total touchdowns in 2021 while helping lead Arizona to the playoffs.

Conner, who played at least 13 games in four of his first five seasons in the NFL, has struggled this season, though, rushing for just 200 yards and one touchdown on 54 carries while catching 14 passes for 103 yards and no scores in five games.

Given Conner's ineffectiveness this season, it can be argued that the Cardinals offense will be better off with Benjamin getting another start.

The second-year Arizona State product is coming off a game against the New Orleans Saints in which he rushed for 92 yards and a touchdown while also reeling in four passes for 21 yards.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver A.J. Green has reportedly emerged as a potential target for the Green Bay Packers ahead of the 2022 NFL trade deadline on Tuesday.

ESPN's Dan Graziano reported Wednesday that Green is an "interesting name" to watch for the Packers amid inconsistent play from their wideouts, which could lead the team's front office to go outside its usual "comfort zone" to upgrade at the position.

Green's involvement in the Arizona offense has been limited this season. He's recorded just 10 catches for 56 yards with no touchdowns across five appearances.

He also posted modest numbers during his first year with the Cardinals in 2021—54 receptions for 848 yards and three scores—after a decorated nine-year run with the Cincinnati Bengals that included seven Pro Bowl selections.

While it's possible Father Time is starting to take a toll at age 34, the former University of Georgia standout expressed confidence in August his physical condition wasn't a serious concern.

"I love playing the game," Green told Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic. "I've got a family, I don't smoke, don't drink. I just live a very simple life, and it keeps me young. I just focus on football, my wife handles all the other things, so I keep my mind free."

His role could increase exponentially if he's traded to the Packers, where longtime quarterback Aaron Rodgers is trying to find trustworthy targets amid the team's lackluster 3-4 start.

Rodgers discussed Tuesday on the Pat McAfee Show (h/t Kevin Patra of NFL.com) his desire to see give some different players an opportunity over those who've been making consistent errors.

"Guys who are making too many mistakes shouldn't be playing, you know,” he said. “Gotta start cutting some reps, and maybe guys who aren't playing, give them a chance."

Green is playing on a one-year, $3.5 million contract and is buried on the Cardinals' depth chart, so the Packers would likely be able to acquire him for a reasonable return, likely a late-round draft pick.

Bringing in a consummate professional like Green, who could both improve the team's pass-catching group this season and provide some guidance for the younger members of Green Bay's receiver room, certainly makes a lot of sense on the surface.

Ultimately, whether it's the longtime Bengals star or another veteran, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Packers add another target for Rodgers before next week's deadline.

Kyler Murray's five-year, $230.5 million contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals initially included language in the deal that required the quarterback to do independent study for four hours each week without other distractions like playing video games, before it leaked publicly, causing an uproar before being removed from the deal.

But it was an indication that perhaps the Cardinals had some questions about Murray's work ethic.

"It's the hardest position to play in the world of sports, and we have questions about study habits?" a veteran coach told The Athletic's Mike Sando. "We don't even have to get into being undersized and getting hurt and having a style of play that is limiting."

It's been an up-and-down start for Murray and the Cardinals in the 2022 season. The team has started 3-4, while Murray has thrown for 1,667 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions, completing 65.5 percent of his passes. He's also rushed for 263 yards and two scores.

The Cardinals established high expectations after starting last season 7-0. Since that time, however, they are just 7-11, including a postseason loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.

Frustrations may be mounting a bit in the desert, even during Thursday's 42-34 win over the New Orleans Saints. At one point in the game, Murray could be seen telling head coach Kliff Kingsbury to "calm the f--k down" as he came to the sidelines during a timeout.

Kyler: “Calm the f*** down” 😳
pic.twitter.com/U54uiXF2XO

— PFF (@PFF) October 21, 2022

"He's real animated over there on the sideline sometimes," Murray told reporters. "It's, 'Calm down, we're good. We're going to make it right.' We ended up scoring, so that was good, but that's all I was saying. Just chill out."

Kingsbury, at least publicly, didn't seem bothered by the exchange.

"Yeah, I mean, it's good," he said. "I think we're working through as an offense where we want to be and what we want to do, and you have competitors that have a level of intensity like that, I think it will keep pushing us forward."

It wasn't the first spat between the two. Earlier in October, cameras caught Murray clearly gesturing at his coach to speed up the tempo.

They are the sort of exchanges that aren't much of a story if a team is winning, but become more telling when a team has had struggles. Add that layer of intrigue to the already existing question marks about whether Murray can live up to his massive contract extension, and you have a fascinating situation brewing in Arizona.