No matter Murray’s QB foe, Cards vs. Panthers has intrigue
PHOENIX (AP) >> Kyler Murray’s going to be the quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The Carolina Panthers have a much more uncertain situation under center.
Whether Cam Newton is healthy enough to play or the Panthers turn to backup Kyle Allen — who was Murray’s college teammate — the matchup will have plenty of intrigue.
Murray, the No. 1 overall pick in April, has had a very promising start to his NFL career. He’s just the second quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 300 yards in his first two career games.
The other guy? Newton, who was also the No. 1 pick in 2011. Both also won the Heisman Trophy.
Murray said he’s never met Newton, but has admired him since he was a teenager.
“I’ve always watched him. I love watching him,” Murray said. “He was one of my favorite quarterbacks growing up, so I look forward to it.”
The question is if Newton will play. The nine-year veteran hasn’t practiced this week because of a midfoot sprain.
If Newton can’t go, the Panthers (0-2) will turn to Allen, who is in his second season and has just one career start. Murray and Allen played together at Texas A&M in 2015, splitting time for a team that finished with an 8-5 record.
In a strange twist, both of them ended up transferring at the end of the season. The two say they got along fine, even if circumstances weren’t ideal. Murray called it a “tough situation.” Allen said they were “never super tight. We had a mutual respect for each other obviously.”
Now they might be on the same NFL field.
“We went to school together. We played together,” Murray said. “I don’t really have control over who starts over there. That’s their deal. I just have to get ready to play, and whoever’s their quarterback is their quarterback.” FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH Receiver Larry Fitzgerald has looked 10 years younger over the Cardinals’ first two games with 13 catches for 217 yards and a touchdown.
The 36-year-old has developed a quick rapport with Murray and the connection looks like it’s going to go-to for Arizona (0-1-1) all season. Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Fitzgerald is a player — along with Panthers TE Greg Olsen — who he encourages young players to emulate.
“He’s the right kind of person, the right kind of young man who understands what it takes to be successful in this game,” Rivera said. “It honestly doesn’t surprise me that he’s still playing, and it doesn’t surprise me that he’s having success like he is because he works at it. RED-ZONE WOES Arizona’s offense has been very efficient this year except when it gets in the red zone. That was a big issue in last week’s 23-17 loss to Baltimore: The Cardinals had to settle for three field goals after getting inside Baltimore’s 5-yard line. It would help to get David Johnson going in the run game. He had just 14 yards rushing on seven carries in Week 2.