NFL teams
Adam Schefter, ESPN Senior Writer 2y

Arizona Cardinals eye game-time call on Kyler Murray as signs point to Colt McCoy starting at QB, sources say

NFL, Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are not expected to make a final decision about their starting quarterback until pregame warm-ups Sunday, but signs point to Colt McCoy making his third straight start in place of the injured Kyler Murray, league sources told ESPN.

Murray and McCoy both are listed as questionable for Sunday's against the Seattle Seahawks. McCoy suffered a pectoral injury in last Sunday's loss to the Carolina Panthers, while Murray has a sprained ankle that he suffered last month against the Green Bay Packers.

McCoy will be ready to play against Seattle, sources told ESPN, but the Cardinals want to see Murray in warm-ups Sunday.

If Murray is unable to play at Seattle, he would get two more weeks to rest his ankle injury and be ready to return after the Week 12 bye for Arizona's stretch run starting Dec. 5, when the Cardinals play the Chicago Bears.

Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said Friday that one factor in the team's decision is the increased risk of Murray reinjuring his ankle if he returns too soon.

"You don't want to put him in harm's way where that thing can get rolled up again," Kingsbury said.

McCoy, 35, has previously enjoyed success in Seattle. He led the New York Giants to an upset victory in Seattle as a fill-in starter last December, becoming the only opposing quarterback to win at Lumen Field in 2020. 

He led the Cardinals to a victory over the San Francisco 49ers two weeks ago, passing for 249 yards and a touchdown. But the 12-year veteran struggled last week against Carolina, passing for 107 yards and committing two turnovers before being replaced by Chris Streveler in the third quarter.

The Cardinals already have ruled out wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who has been nursing a hamstring injury and will miss his third straight game.

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