Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals reportedly aren't keen on trading wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown ahead of Tuesday's NFL trade deadline.

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Cards have received calls on Brown, but they want him "to be part of their future," and Russini does not anticipate Arizona trading him.

Brown is the Cardinals' leading receiver across the board this season with 32 receptions for 383 yards and three touchdowns.

The 26-year-old Brown was originally selected 25th overall by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2019 NFL draft, but they dealt him and a third-round pick to the Cardinals on the night of the 2022 NFL draft for a first-round pick.

Arizona seemingly hoped Brown would form a dominant one-two punch at wide receiver with DeAndre Hopkins, but Brown missed five games due to injury last season and finished with fairly modest stats, making 67 catches for 709 yards and three touchdowns.

After the Cards released Hopkins during the offseason, Brown entered the 2023 campaign as the team's unquestioned No. 1 wideout, but he had to contend with an uncertain quarterback situation.

After tearing his ACL last season, quarterback Kyler Murray started the 2023 season on the physically unable to perform list, and journeyman Joshua Dobbs has been the starter under center.

Although the Cardinals are just 1-6, Dobbs has been fairly steady, and it has resulted in Brown putting up solid numbers.

While Murray is out Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, he returned to practice in full over the past week, meaning he should be back within the next week or two.

Murray's return will provide a significant boost to Brown and the Arizona offense, and it is likely that new head coach Jonathan Gannon would like to see what they can do together in Drew Petzing's offense.

If the Cardinals end up with one of the top picks in the 2024 NFL draft as expected, they will have a difficult decision to make.

They could take USC quarterback Caleb Williams or North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye and try to move in from Murray despite signing him to a five-year, $230.5 million contract extension last year, or they could take Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. as a replacement for or complement to Brown.

The biggest factor that could possibly prompt the Cardinals to trade Brown is the fact that he is set to become a free agent during the offseason.

Arizona could always sign Brown to an extension or place the franchise tag on him, but he would also potentially net them some solid draft compensation in a trade, which could appeal greatly to a rebuilding team like the Cards.

After going through his first full practice of the season this week, Kyler Murray is getting closer to making his 2023 debut for the Arizona Cardinals.

Per The Athletic's Dianna Russini, Murray "doesn't have any physical restrictions" as he recovers from a torn ACL and his chances of playing as soon as Week 9 against the Cleveland Browns are "high."

Russini did note the window for Murray to play could be "three to four weeks" if he doesn't suit up against the Browns.

Murray, who tore his ACL on Dec. 12 against the New England Patriots, began this season on the physically unable to perform list, ensuring he would miss at least the first four games.

The Cardinals opened Murray's 21-day practice window on Oct. 18. If he got to the end of this window and wasn't added to the active roster, it would mean he's unable to play for the entire season.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport previously reported "most likely outcome" is the Cardinals use the full three-week practice window before he plays on Nov. 12 against the Atlanta Falcons, but Week 9 against the Browns is in play "if all goes perfectly well on the field and off it."

There have been indications this week that Murray is getting closer to being able to return. He went through his first full practice on Wednesday after being limited for all three days last week.

Wednesday was the only practice Murray participated in and he's officially listed as doubtful to play against the Baltimore Ravens, per the team's injury report.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters on Friday that Murray is "fully healthy" and ready to play in that respect, but the Cardinals want to slow play his return just to be safe.

There are plenty of reasons for the Cardinals, particularly with a first-year head coach and general manager, to get an extended look at Murray in games. If he plays well, it could increase his trade value during the offseason or they could decide to go with him as their long-term answer at quarterback.

The plan as recently as one year ago was for Murray to be Arizona's franchise quarterback. He signed a five-year, $230.5 million contract extension in July 2022 that runs through the 2028 season.

Drafted No. 1 overall in 2019, Murray was named to back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2020 and 2021. He led the Cardinals to the playoffs during the 2021 season and averaged 3,826 passing yards, 595 rushing yards and accounted for 30 touchdowns in each of his first three seasons.

The Arizona Cardinals are listing quarterback Kyler Murray as doubtful to play in Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Murray was a full participant in Thursday's practice and was off the injury report, but it wasn't necessarily an indication that he would play in Week 8 as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL.

According to Darren Urban of the team's official website, Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has not yet ruled Murray out for Sunday's game, and would only say, "We'll see," when asked about his status.

The Cardinals opened the practice window for Murray for the first time since his ACL surgery prior to their Week 7 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

Per Rapoport, his return was "expected to take multiple weeks, with the most likely outcome that he practices for three weeks, then plays on Nov. 12" against the Atlanta Falcons. A return on Nov. 5 against the Cleveland Browns was possible only "if all goes perfectly well on the field and off it."

Murray has been sidelined since Dec. 12 when he tore his ACL against the New England Patriots. He has five years and roughly $182 million left on the $230.5 million contract extension he signed with Arizona prior to the 2022 season, per Rapoport.

The last time Murray was healthy, his production saw a slight regression. In 11 games in 2022, he threw for 2,368 yards, 14 touchdowns and seven touchdowns. He completed 66.4 percent of his passes, down from 69.2 percent across 14 games in 2021.

The Cardinals have struggled in Murray's absence, starting the 2023 season with a 1-6 record. Veteran quarterback Joshua Dobbs has done his best to keep the team afloat, throwing for 1,361 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions this year.

Murray's return will be a welcome sight for Arizona fans. Until then, the team will continue to ride with Dobbs in a rebuilding year.

Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz is being placed on injured reserve and will miss at least the next four games with a quad strain, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Ertz suffered the injury during Sunday's 22-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

The plan is for Ertz to return to the field at some point this season, according to Pelissero.

Losing Ertz is a tough blow for the Arizona offense as he has caught 27 passes for 187 yards and one touchdown on 43 targets in seven games. The numbers don't jump off the page, but he has been a consistent performer for the Cardinals, catching at least two passes per game.

Ertz joined the Cardinals during the 2021 season after spending the first eight and a half years of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The three-time Pro Bowler has caught 130 passes for 1,167 yards and eight touchdowns in 28 games across three seasons with the Cardinals. He's under contract with the Cards through the 2024 campaign and will become a free agent in 2025.

Ertz is only the latest Arizona player to hit the shelf with an injury. Star quarterback Kyler Murray is working his way back from a torn ACL suffered during the 2022 campaign and former Pro Bowl running back James Conner is on injured reserve with a knee ailment.

Veteran safety Budda Baker also only returned to the lineup on Sunday after missing the last five games with a hamstring injury.

The Cardinals are currently fourth in the NFC West with a 1-6 record and it's unlikely they'll make the playoffs this year with injuries continuing to add up.

The Arizona Cardinals "still want to build around" quarterback Kyler Murray, according to Fox Sports' Jay Glazer.

The news was framed against the backdrop of Murray's continued recovery from a torn ACL last December and speculation over his long-term future:

The two-time Pro Bowler returned to practice ahead of the team's Week 7 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. That triggered the start of a 21-day window in which the Cardinals needed to activate him, or he'd be ruled out for the remainder of the season.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that Week 10 against the Atlanta Falcons is considered the most likely return date for Murray and that he might be ready a week before that.

Adam Schefter of ESPN noted how Arizona assumes some financial risk the moment Murray is back on the field. His $18 million base salary and $11.9 million roster bonus for 2025 become fully guaranteed if he doesn't pass a physical next March.

The Cardinals could theoretically pack it in, rest the 26-year-old for the entire season, and potentially make it easier to move on if they believe a QB change is required in 2025.

Instead, Arizona looks determined to get Murray some snaps to help him shake off the rust and build more familiarity in the offense of first-year head coach Jonathan Gannon.

In what otherwise looks like a lost year, Murray's return may also generate a level of excitement within the fanbase and raise hopes for the franchise in 2024.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is expected to return to the field in mid-November, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Rapoport reported "the most likely outcome" is Murray suiting up for the Cardinals' Week 10 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 12. He might even get the green light a week earlier against the Cleveland Browns.

ESPN's Adam Schefter made note of the financial implications at play.

"Murray, who returned to practice last week for the first time since suffering a torn ACL last December, has $29.9 million in 2025 salary compensation that becomes fully guaranteed next March if he can't pass a physical by then," he wrote Sunday.

"The only way to ensure that Murray would be healthy by March 2024 would be not to play him, which the Cardinals don't want to do."

Murray began the 2023 season on the physically unable to perform list after tearing his ACL during a Week 14 matchup against the New England Patriots during the 2022 season. He underwent surgery to repair his ACL in January.

Murray had put together a solid 2022 campaign before going down, completing 66.4 percent of his passes for 2,368 yards and 14 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 11 games, in addition to rushing for 418 yards and three scores.

The Cardinals suffered mightily in the 26-year-old's absence, finishing the year with a 4-13 record and missing the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons.

Arizona has also endured a difficult start to the 2023 campaign with Joshua Dobbs under center. The Cardinals are 1-5 with Dobbs serving as the team's starting quarterback and the franchise seemingly has little chance to make the postseason.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown has generted interest from opposing teams via trade, although Arizona is not planning on moving the 26-year-old (via Dianna Russini of The Athletic).

Brown has been productive this year, recording 334 yards and three touchdowns through the team's first six games. His numbers should only increase once Kyler Murray is able to come back, as the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback is beginning to practice again as he returns from a torn ACL.

While Brown is set to hit unrestricted free agency in the 2024 offseason, the Cardinals believe that the risk of him potentially leaving isn't worth losing the wideout mid-season. The front office has plans on keeping him beyond this year, per Russini.

"Brown is both healthy and productive right now and looks to be part of this team's future. Remember, the Cardinals have six picks in the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft. They have plenty of draft capital."

Their excess of picks in the 2024 Draft comes from the front office's deal with the Houston Texans this past April, trading down from the No. 3 overall pick to the No. 12 overall selection while receiving Houston's 2024 first-round pick.

Prior to a Week 5 matchup with Cincinnati earlier this season, Brown shut down rumors of him experiencing a change of scenery.

"I didn't see that," he said, according to Darren Urban of azcardinals.com. "That's not my focus. My focus is on the Bengals. I'm a Cardinal. That's all I'm worried about."

Arizona's offense is ranked just 25th league-wide with an average of 190.7 passing yards per game, although the return of Murray could result in them finishing the season with a top-20 mark.

The signal-caller currently has a career average of 242.9 passing yards per game.

Budda Baker is officially back.

The Arizona Cardinals safety has been activated off injured reserve and will return to the lineup on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks after recovering from a hamstring injury, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Baker injured his hamstring before a Week 2 matchup against the New York Giants and was placed on injured reserve, missing the team's last five games.

In Arizona's Week 1 loss to the Washington Commanders, he played every defensive snap, posting five tackles.

"It's something definitely I wanted to get back for and be ready to play," Baker told reporters this week of potentially returning to the lineup against Seattle. "Right now, I'm just taking it day by day and seeing how everything holds up."

Baker, a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, has been a staple in the Arizona defense since being selected by the franchise in the second round of the 2017 draft out of Washington.

Prior to this year, the 27-year-old had never missed more than two games in a season. He's coming off a Pro Bowl 2022 campaign in which he posted two interceptions, seven pass breakups, one forced fumble, 75 tackles, one tackle for loss and two quarterback hits in 15 games.

"He's one of the best I've been around in a short period of time," Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said of Baker this week. "I've really been in awe of him and how he goes about his day. The way he can bring his teammates along with him and elevate their game. As far as the leadership goes and how you can do that as a player, that's really a special quality."

While Baker is a key figure in Arizona's defense, he reportedly requested a trade this offseason. He asked the team to make him the highest-paid safety in the NFL on a new contract or trade him.

Baker has a cap hit worth $17.9 million this season and he's due to become a free agent after the 2024 campaign. It's unclear where the Cardinals stand on either giving him a new deal or moving him ahead of the Oct. 31 deadline.

Arizona is fourth in the NFC West with a 1-5 record and will likely miss the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.

Kyler Murray continues to progress as he recovers from a torn ACL after returning to practice this week, but the Arizona Cardinals remain tight-lipped about when he might get back on the field.

Appearing on the Wolf and Luke show on Arizona Sports, Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort said he "can't give an exact" timetable when Murray is going to play in games.

After Ossenfort's comments, Murray was officially ruled out for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks. The quarterback began this season on the physically unable to perform list. He tore his ACL against the New England Patriots on Dec. 12, 2022.

Even though Murray talked about wanting to be ready for Week 1, it seemed unlikely he would be able to pull that off with just nine months between when he suffered the injury and the start of this season.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported in January that Murray could miss half of the season because he wanted to "make sure this thing is 100 percent right."

There was speculation coming into the season that the Cardinals wouldn't play Murray at all, even if he was healthy, because they wanted to tank in an attempt to land a better pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Ossenfort dismissed that by telling Wolf and Luke on Sept. 29 the Cardinals "won't hesitate" to play Murray as soon as he is ready.

The Cardinals announced on Wednesday they opened Murray's practice window. This gives them 21 days to evaluate where he's at physically before they have to activate him to the 53-man roster or he will be shut down for the season.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters after Murray's first practice it would be an "organizational decision" when he plays in games.

There's an incentive for both the Cardinals and Murray to get him on the field as long as he's healthy enough to play.

Arizona can decide to either move forward with Murray as the long-term answer at quarterback or put him on the trade market during the offseason with the hope of getting a significant return.

Murray will want to prove to all 32 teams he can still be a good quarterback going forward coming off a serious knee injury. The two-time Pro Bowler is under contract through the 2028 season. He threw for at least 3,700 yards, 20 touchdowns in each of his first three seasons. He's also racked up more than 400 rushing in each of his first four seasons.

Kyler Murray will "play plenty" for the Arizona Cardinals this season, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Rapoport said the decision as to whether Murray is a franchise starting quarterback or a trade option, as well as what the Cardinals will do with their 2024 first-round draft pick, will depend on how he plays during the rest of the season.

"Seeing Kyler on the field, in their offense, in their scheme, working with the coaches in games, this is all important," Rapoport said Thursday on The Insiders. "I do believe that Kyler Murray is going to play plenty this season."

Murray was designated Wednesday to return from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and could return to the active roster at any time in the three weeks after returning.

The Cardinals quarterback has not played since December 12, 2022, when he suffered an ACL tear during a game against the New England Patriots.

Murray was a limited participant during the Cardinals' Wednesday practice in what head coach Jonathan Gannon saw as "the first step in a slow process to ramp him up," per Rapoport.

If the Cardinals use the entire three-week practice window before activating him, Murray would return for Arizona's Week 10 contest against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Cardinals may have financial incentive to keep him Murray on the sidelines. NBC Sports' Mike Florio noted that Murray has $29.9 million in 2025 injury guarantees in his contract that will kick in if he doesn't pass a physical by March 2024.

By keeping him off the field, the Cardinals could avoid risking triggering that guarantee, a strategy Florio noted was used by the Indianapolis Colts with quarterback Matt Ryan last season.

Murray said in mid-July his "goal" was to be back on the field by Week 1, but Rapoport reported later that month that the Cardinals were unlikely to push for an early-season return.

"It does not sound like anyone is pressing and hoping and wanting for Week 1," Rapoport wrote in July. "This is their franchise quarterback—they want to be careful, they want to be cautious."

In Rapoport's most recent report, the analyst appeared much less certain about Murray's designation as the Cardinals' franchise quarterback.

With the Cards off to a 1-5 record to begin the season, Arizona could be eyeing its fourth top-10 pick in five seasons. Rapoport indicated that selection could potentially be used on a quarterback.

Joshua Dobbs, who has started in Murray's absence, will continue running the Cardinals' offense for now. Dobbs has struggled in Arizona's last two losses, during which he recorded five turnovers and two touchdowns.