The Arizona Cardinals will replace Joshua Dobbs in Week 9.
On Monday, head coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters that either Kyler Murray or Clayton Tune will start against the Cleveland Browns. Dobbs won’t get a chance to face the team that traded him in August.
Dobbs started each of the previous eight games for Arizona this season. The 28-year-old tallied 1,569 passing yards, 11 total touchdowns (three rushing), and five interceptions with an 81.2 quarterback rating.
The former fourth-round pick looked sharp to start the season. He completed 70.7 percent of his passes in Arizona’s first four games, including a Week 3 upset over the Dallas Cowboys.
However, Dobbs threw two picks in Sunday’s 31-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Arizona dropped to an NFL-worst 1-7.
It’ll be Clayton Tune OR Kyler Murray against the Cleveland Browns this week, per #AZCardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon. pic.twitter.com/PDGpJodfX2
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) October 30, 2023
The question now is whether Murray is ready to make his 2023 debut.
Murray hasn’t played since tearing his ACL against the New England Patriots last December. The former No. 1 pick was a full participant in practice last week, but the Cardinals have yet to activate him off the injured reserve.
While Gannon described Murray as “fully healthy” last week, a Cardinals team at the bottom of the standings has little reason to hurry back the 26-year-old. That may pave the way for Tune to make his first career start.
Tune, a rookie drafted with the No. 139 pick, completed his only NFL pass for four yards in Week 7. If getting the call, the 24-year-old would draw a tough first assignment in Cleveland’s top-ranked passing defense.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said a Week 10 return is more likely for Murray, and Tune will play this Sunday “barring a significant change of plans.”