Cardinals QB Kyler Murray still weeks away from returning

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray will be eligible to come off the PUP list on Monday, but according to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter that is not going to happen.

Not only is Murray not expected to be removed from the PUP list, he is also still thought to be weeks away from returning to the lineup.

Murray is working his way back from a major knee injury suffered near the end of the 2023 season.

According to league rules regarding the PUP list, since Murray has already missed four games Arizona will have a five-week window to get him back on the practice field. At that point, it will have three weeks to activate him to the 53-man roster. 

If he is unable to return by those deadlines, he would be forced to remain on the list for the rest of the season and sit out the the year.

In Murray's absence, the Cardinals have been relying on veteran journeyman backup Joshua Dobbs. 

Dobbs has started the Cardinals' first three games and played very well, throwing two touchdowns and no interceptions while also posting a 98.1 passer rating. It has been a great opportunity for him to show what he can do as a starter after spending most of his career as a backup. He has mostly taken advantage of the chance and gotten better each week, including an outstanding showing in a Week 3 upset win over the heavily favored Dallas Cowboys.  

The Cardinals' long-term quarterback situation remains uncertain.

Not only is Murray still trying to work his way back from an injury, but he has a massive contract that the current front office did not give him. The current front office has no real connection to the quarterback as the face of the franchise. So far, Murray's career has been a roller coaster of highs and lows and there is no guarantee the current coaching staff and front office view him as their long-term solution.  

With the Cardinals likely to have two of the top-five picks in the 2024 draft, and perhaps even the top pick if they end up being as bad as expected, there is a real chance they will find themselves in a position to draft USC standout Caleb Williams. That would be awfully difficult to pass on if you are the Cardinals.