Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon on Monday refused to commit to a starting quarterback — even with the 2023 NFL season right around the corner.
The Cardinals open the new season in Washington against the Commanders on Sept. 10. But Gannon is intent on keeping his cards close to the vest, citing a “competitive advantage” the first-year coach is seeking.
McCoy’s exit makes the QB room smaller
The Cardinals released veteran quarterback Colt McCoy on Monday in a surprise decision — but one that might bring into sharper focus Arizona‘s plans while it waits for Kyler Murray to return to full health.
Gannon explained it was in the “best interest of the team” to release McCoya 13-year veteran who played four games for the Cardinals last season.
Alongside the newly-acquiredJoshua Dobbsfifth-round pick Clayton Tune is considered the only other viable option to start for the Cardinals in Week 1. Tune received a lot of playing time in preseason, throwing for 353 yards and a touchdown while appearing in all three contests.
How long will Kyler Murray be out?
Arizona‘s franchise quarterback Murray suffered a serious knee injury last December and will remain on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list to begin the 2023 campaign.
This means Murray is guaranteed to miss at least the first four games, including home games against the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giantsas well as a visit to San Francisco to take on the 49ers in Week 4. Reports have varied, but most indicate that Murray will miss at least half of the 2023 season — putting him on track for a return sometime in November.
