Cardinals Turn to Jacoby Brissett For Week 7, As Murray’s Foot Issues Linger

The Arizona Cardinals are rolling with Jacoby Brissett under center for Sunday’s showdown against the Green Bay Packers, marking the second consecutive week that Kyler Murray will be watching from the sidelines with that pesky foot injury.

Why Brissett Gets the Nod Once More

The veteran signal-caller earned himself another start after putting together what could generously be called the Cardinals’ most competent offensive performance of the season last week against Indianapolis. Sure, they still lost 31-27 – because of course they did – but at least Brissett made it interesting.

The 31-year-old journeyman completed 27 of 44 passes for 320 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception while adding 19 rushing yards on three carries. Not exactly Hall of Fame numbers, but when you’re dealing with a Cardinals offense that’s been about as consistent as Arizona weather in monsoon season, you take what you can get.

It marked Brissett’s first 300-yard passing game since Week 11 of the 2022 season with Cleveland – a stat that tells you everything you need to know about both his recent playing time and the Browns’ offensive struggles during that era.

Murray’s Mysterious Foot Situation

Murray’s foot injury occurred during the Week 5 loss to Tennessee. What’s crazy is originally people thought that he had a concussion on the spot he got hurt, but it was an foot injury. That injury resulted in Brissett getting the start in Week 6. The former Heisman Trophy winner was limited in practice all week and carried that dreaded “questionable” tag into the weekend.

But let’s be honest – when was the last time a “questionable” designation actually left anyone questioning anything? The writing was on the wall faster than you could say “injury report.”

The Cardinals are banking on their Week 8 bye to give Murray’s foot the extra healing time it apparently desperately needs. The target return date? Week 9 against Dallas on Monday Night Football. Because nothing says “comeback game” quite like primetime television and Jerry Jones’s giant video board looming overhead.

The Brissett Factor in Arizona’s Struggles

Here’s where things get interesting from a statistical standpoint. Since drafting Murray first overall in 2019, the Cardinals are a whopping 4-15 when their franchise quarterback doesn’t start. That’s not exactly the kind of backup quarterback success story you’d want to write home about.

But here’s the thing – Brissett might actually give this Cardinals team something they’ve been missing: stability. Not the flashy, highlight-reel variety that Murray brings when healthy, but the steady, mistake-free variety that can actually help a struggling team find its footing.

What This Means for the Packers Matchup

The Green Bay Packers (3-1-1) are coming to town riding high and probably licking their chops at the prospect of facing a backup quarterback. But here’s where Green Bay might want to pump the brakes on any overconfidence. Brissett isn’t some wide-eyed rookie making his first NFL start. This is a guy who’s been around the league long enough to know how to manage a game, and more importantly, how to avoid the kind of catastrophic mistakes that turn winnable games into blowouts.

The Bigger Picture for Arizona

Let’s zoom out for a minute and look at what this all means for the Cardinals’ season. At 2-4, they’re not exactly in prime position for a playoff run, but in the NFC West – where chaos reigns supreme and nothing makes sense – staying within striking distance could be crucial.

The fact that Brissett managed to guide the offense to 400 total yards and 27 points against Indianapolis suggests that maybe, just maybe, this Cardinals team isn’t as hopeless as their record indicates. Heck, he might be better in this system then Kyler Murray. Sometimes all it takes is a steady hand at the wheel to unlock potential that’s been sitting there all along.