Murray eyeing start; Cardinals like McCoy
Team confident backup QB can step in if needed
Kyler Murray didn’t practice for a second consecutive day on Thursday because of a sprained left ankle. Although he’s still expecting to start on Sunday when the Cardinals play at the 49ers, the team is throwing its full support behind backup quarterback Colt McCoy.
That doesn’t mean Arizona’s defense won’t be thinking it has to play at a higher level if McCoy gets the start.
“Kyler Murray’s the best player on the team and so if your quarterback is a superstar and he can’t go … of course you feel like you’ve got to play a little harder,” outside linebacker Markus Golden said.
Golden, however, followed that up with this take on the real McCoy:
“I played with Colt in New York and I know how he goes every day, man. This guy, he’s more focused than anybody I’ve ever seen. Every day. You would think he was starting. I was able to play with him in New York and playing with him in Arizona this season has been the same thing.
“Even if he has to play, we know he’s going to be prepared. He’s a professional and he’s going to come to work every day and if he plays, he’s going to do everything he can on Sunday to help us with the game.”
In 47 career games, McCoy, 35, has completed 600 of 989 passes for 6,455 yards and 30 touchdowns against 28 interceptions. His last start came for the Giants on Dec. 20 in a 20-6 loss to the Browns. Murray, meanwhile, has never missed a game since entering the NFL, starting all 40.
“Our anticipation is that (Murray) is going to do everything he can to play, but we’ve got a lot of confidence in Colt,” tight end Zach Ertz said. “It’s the NFL, injuries happen, and guys are going to miss a game here and there and the next guy has got to stand up.
“Colt’s been working his butt off this week on the practice field in case he does have to go and does have to be the quarterback. We’ve got lot of confidence in Colt just in him being in the league this long. You see it out there each and every day why he’s a good quarterback.
“We’ll be ready for whoever plays.”
With wide receivers A.J. Green still on the Reserve/COVID-19 list and DeAndre Hopkins nursing a pulled hamstring, don’t be surprised if Ertz sees his most targets in a game yet since his trade last month from the Eagles.
So far, he’s caught seven passes on nine targets for 109 yards and a touchdown.
“I think they’re still trying how to use me, per se,” Ertz said. “My role is growing each and every week, seeing what I do well, seeing how they can use me. It’s still early. I’ve only been here essentially for two games, so I think we’re still in the beginning stages.”
“But I think they’re very confident in what I can do when I’m on the field and I think my role is just going to continue to evolve. I don’t know exactly what it’s going to be every week, but all I can do is go out on the practice field and practice my butt off each and every day, which I love to do. And I think it’s going to grow every week.”
Cohesion on O-line
Despite having to use multiple starting combinations due to injuries, the Cardinals’ offensive line continues to be a strength, and it’s played with some real cohesion throughout the first half of the season.
“I think that’s a testament to (offensive line) coach (Sean) Kugler,” right tackle Kelvin Beachum said. “It’s a testament to coach (Kliff) Kingsbury and our GM (Steve Keim) for putting a great roster together and putting a great room together. These are a lot of guys that have played a lot of football at different points in their career and when guys have had to step up, we’ve had guys step up.
“We really do value each other. We value what we all bring to the table, the personalities that each individual brings to the table, it’s something special. This is a special room to be a part of, one of the best offensive line room I’ve been a part of. It’s fun being here and it’s fun having the type of success we’ve had as an offensive line since I’ve been here.”
The O-line is about to get even stronger with the return of veteran center Rodney Hudson (ribs) from injured reserve. There’s a good chance he will be activated to the 53-man roster in time for Sunday’s game.
“That injury is not something to play with,” said Beachum, who missed two games earlier this season with fractured ribs. “It’s tough to get back into your stance again, to compress your body and contort your body to be able to get into your stance. It’s something I struggled with coming back from that injury and I know that’s something he has to deal with and having his hand over the ball every single play.”
Hudson isn’t the only offensive lineman getting ready to make a return. Guard Justin Murray, who has missed the past five games because of a back issue, was designated to return from injured reserve on Thursday. Murray started at right guard during Arizona’s Week 3 victory at Jacksonville but was injured in that game.
The Cardinals can activate Murray to the 53-man roster at any point during the next 21 days or at the conclusion of the three-week period.
Moore from you
Rookie wide receiver Rondale Moore made a big mistake in last Thursday night’s loss to the Packers when he touched the football during an awkward punt-return attempt.
Green Bay recovered the ball at the Cardinals’ 3-yard line but had to settle for a field goal.
Although that turned out to be the difference in the final scoring margin, the Cardinals have rallied around the second-round pick from Purdue.
“To me, personally, you just remind him who he is and he’s a badass,” safety Chris Banjo said. “Excuse my language, but Rondale, he’s a hell of a player. You just remind him of who he is and also remind him that’s we’ve got him as a team. There were a lot of things we all could have done better in that game, in that moment.
“So, you just again remind him that we all got him and we’re still counting on him to be the badass that he is and make plays for us, which he has been and he’s going to continue to do.”
Injury report
In addition to Murray, Cardinals players who did not practice on Thursday also included Hopkins, defensive linemen J.J. Watt (shoulder) and Rashard Lawrence (calf), safety James Wiggins (knee) and running back Jonathan Ward (concussion).
Listed as limited for a second straight day were linebacker Zaven Collins (shoulder), running bak Chase Edmonds (shoulder), guard/center Max Garcia (Achilles) and guard Justin Pugh (calf).
For the 49ers, safety Jimmie Ward (quadricep) and defensive lineman Maurice Hurst (calf) did not practice.