PHOENIX — Looking back on 2023, it was quite the eventful year for the Arizona Cardinals. In early January, quarterback Kyler Murray underwent knee surgery and the organization parted ways with its head coach and general manager. Later that month, the Cardinals hired Monti Ossenfort as their new GM and four weeks later, Jonathan Gannon was hired as Arizona’s new head coach. The new regime brought what players described as “a culture shock” in the best way, elevating expectations even if the results didn’t materialize.
Back in July 2022 – before the injury, the surgery, and the front office turnover -- Murray and the Cardinals agreed to a five-year contract extension worth $230.5 million. The deal signaled that Murray was the franchise quarterback. However, 17 months after putting pen to paper, there are questions about whether or not Murray is fit to be the future of the Cardinals. The top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft has yet to win an NFL Playoff game (one appearance) and the Cardinals have gone 6-12 in games Murray has started since that postseason loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The final two games of this season, against the Philadelphia Eagles and the Seattle Seahawks, will be two big tests for Murray as he looks ahead to a healthy offseason.
“I wouldn’t say the next two games, I would say this game is important for Kyler. He wants to play well,” Gannon said before Friday’s practice. “We gotta operate on the road versus a good defense [and] against a really good team who’s fighting to be the one-seed. We know the challenge that lies ahead and it’s important for [Kyler] and for us that he plays winning football.”
Murray will be without one of his favorite targets, Hollywood Brown, for the remainder of the season as the wide out was placed on injured reserve Friday morning. Brown has been battling through a heel injury for the last several weeks and the former Oklahoma Sooner will become a free agent in March.
The Cardinals also placed defensive lineman and Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee Jonathan Ledbetter on IR after suffering a knee injury Week 16 in Chicago.
The Cardinals and Eagles kickoff at 11 a.m. MST on Sunday. The Cardinals wrap up their season at home on Sunday, January 7 against the Seattle Seahawks.
Follow the conversation with Lina Washington on X/Twitter: @LWashingtonTV. If you have a sports story idea, e-mail Lina at LWashington@12News.com.
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