TEMPE, Ariz. — Quarterback Jacoby Brissett will get his fourth straight start for the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in Seattle against the Seahawks, coach Jonathan Gannon said Tuesday.
The move means Kyler Murray will remain sidelined as he continues his recovery from a foot injury that has kept him sidelined since October 5.
Gannon initially said after Arizona’s 27-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night that “nothing has changed” regarding his starting quarterback, meaning Brissett would back up Murray once his foot is fully healed.
But Gannon said Tuesday he likes how well the offense has run under Brissett.
“So in my mind, I take all the variables that I have to make a decision and I make the decision when I need to and I think we do a really good job on offense,” Gannon said. “I like what the offense is doing right now.”
Gannon said his decision to name a starter six days before the Seahawks game was because of the “clarity that this provides game planning for our team.”
“I think it’s important,” he said.
He added that the decision not to start Murray is still linked to the foot injury that has kept him out of the last three games. Gannon said he still doesn’t know if Murray will be placed on injured reserve because of it.
Sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Murray and the team have consulted with several foot doctors about the injury and have been told a possible timeline for his recovery could be between four and eight weeks due to an increased likelihood of a setback unless he heals properly.
An eight-week schedule would allow Murray to participate in the Cardinals’ Week 13 game at Tampa Bay on Nov. 30.
Gannon said Tuesday that injuries “never” turn out the way you think.
“He’s doing well. He wants to be out there,” Gannon said of Murray. “He’s a competitor. I talked to him today, but he’s a good teammate and he works to be healthy.”
The stats seem to support Gannon’s assertion that the Cardinals offense plays better behind Brissett:
• In his three starts, Brissett is averaging 286 passing yards per game, 7.7 yards per attempt and has thrown six touchdowns against one interception. In his five starts, Murray is averaging 170 passing yards, 6.0 yards per attempt and has thrown six touchdowns against three interceptions. Each ran for a touchdown, despite Murray rushing 14 more times for 122 more yards.
• Arizona’s offense is averaging 25.7 offensive points and 357 yards per game under Brissett, compared to 18.8 and 288.4, respectively, under Murray.
• Arizona also converts 56% of third downs in Brissett’s starts and 40% in Murray’s starts.
• Brissett has thrown 44 first downs in two fewer games than Murray (50).
Brissett said Monday night, however, that the reason the offense is playing well is because “all 11 are doing a good job.”
“We’re doing the things that are necessary to move the ball, stay on the court and score points and that’s good to see because we put up some numbers here that would tell you that you should have a chance to win the game when you put up with the points that we put up,” Gannon said. “So, with that said, this week is going to be a new challenge. In my opinion, from the video I’ve watched so far, this is the best defense we’ve faced, so it’s going to be a big challenge, especially at their place.”
