Could Cardinals start Joshua Dobbs over cleared Kyler Murray?

It appears journeyman Joshua Dobbs will not remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals regardless of what happens before Kyler Murray is cleared to return to action later this season. 

"...The Cardinals won't keep Murray from playing even if they're playing well or winning with Dobbs," Cardinals reporter Josh Weinfuss of ESPN explained for a piece published Wednesday. "Both sides -- the team and Murray -- want the quarterback to play in 2023." 

Murray underwent ACL surgery that included some meniscus repair in early January and missed the first four weeks of the season while on the reserve/physically unable to perform list. As noted by Darren Urban of the Cardinals' website, Murray stayed on that list through Wednesday, and it's unknown when he'll return to practice with a 1-3 Arizona side that is preparing to host the 1-3 Cincinnati Bengals this coming Sunday.

"I don't think there is any disappointment," Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said about Murray remaining unavailable until further notice. "We knew his timeline, where he is at, and that's kind of a day-by-day thing with all the guys coming off an injury. He actually has been very upbeat the whole time but this last couple of weeks I have seen a little bit of a different bounce in his step."

Per ESPN stats, Dobbs ended Week 4 ranked eighth in the entire league among qualified players with a 67.6 adjusted QBR, 10th with a 99.4 passer rating and seventh with a 70.7% completion percentage on the season. He matched four touchdown passes with zero interceptions over his first four games with Arizona after he joined the club via a trade on Aug. 24. 

"He has been in meetings, watching practice and rehabbing on the sideline all season, but when he returns to the field is up in the air," Weinfuss added about Murray.

Dobbs insisted last week he is "excited to see Kyler come back" even though such a return would relegate the 28-year-old to QB2 duties. Murray seemingly isn't playing anytime soon, so Dobbs can focus on helping Arizona earn wins against opponents such as Cincinnati until he hears otherwise.