Kyler Murray completed his first 12 passes in New Orleans on Sunday as the Minnesota Vikings beat the Saints 23-13 to move to 5-0. Later that afternoon in Glendale, the Arizona Cardinals wrapped up a 45-21 loss to the Lions without Marvin Harrison Jr., who sat inactive while the team finalized his trade to Houston.
Murray finished 24-of-30 for 229 yards and a touchdown to Justin Jefferson, and he is now 3-0 as Minnesota’s starter. Arizona is covering most of that bill. The Cardinals released him March 11 and still owe him $36 million this season, while the Vikings signed him for the $1.3 million minimum.
Harrison’s best Arizona days came with Murray
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The timing stings beyond the money. In 22 games with Murray at quarterback, Harrison caught 82 passes for 1,191 yards and 10 touchdowns. Without him, Harrison managed 26 catches for 287 yards and three scores.
Jacoby Brissett has started since Murray’s foot injury last October, and Arizona is 2-15 in his starts. He threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns against Detroit, much of it after the game was decided. He also lost a teammate he cared about.
“It’s a person we all have a relationship with outside of football,” Brissett said, via the team’s website. “As much as everyone wants to say, ‘It’s a business, it’s a business,’ that doesn’t make it easy.”
Head coach Mike LaFleur shut down talk of a potential quarterback change after the loss.
In Minnesota, the tone is different. Murray also ran 10 times for 51 yards, and Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell praised him for “spitting completions all day and using his legs,” according to the Vikings’ website. “Really treating it like there’s just nameless guys out there and trusting my reads,” Murray said.
What’s next for the Cardinals at SoFi
Arizona visits the Los Angeles Rams at 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday. The Rams are coming off a 37-34 overtime loss to Buffalo, and left tackle Alaric Jackson is expected to be suspended for punching Bills edge rusher Bradley Chubb after the game. That opening matters only if the Cardinals can stop the bleeding on defense, where four straight opponents have scored at least 30 points.
The offense has its own swings. “When it’s going good, it’s going good and then it’s a three-and-out machine,” LaFleur said Monday on Arizona Sports.
Murray gets a bye week to enjoy the 5-0 start. Harrison could debut for the Texans in London against Jacksonville. The Cardinals, meanwhile, still have to figure out who steps up now at receiver, with the man who made Harrison look like a No. 4 pick playing well in purple.
More on the Arizona Cardinals
- Cardinals Rookie Grades: Jeremiyah Love’s 67.7 PFF Grade Is Slipping Before a Rams Rebound Spot
- Jacoby Brissett Is No. 26 in New QB Rankings, and Sunday at the Rams Could Decide His Job
- How Far Did the Cardinals Fall in NFL Power Rankings After Their Blowout Loss to the Lions?
- Cardinals Stick With Nick Rallis Despite 142 Points in 4 Games
