ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kyler Murray is making his long-awaited return from a two-game injury absence as the Arizona Cardinals prepare to face the Dallas Cowboys. The game, set for Monday night, is a homecoming of sorts for Murray, who once played in this very stadium during his high school and college days.
Murray has a strong history at AT&T Stadium, where he won a schoolboy championship and later claimed a Big 12 title with the Oklahoma Sooners. Now, as the 2019 No. 1 overall pick leading the Cardinals (2-5), he has secured two victories in this venue. His performance here has been nothing short of impressive, and fans are eager to see if he can help end the team’s five-game losing streak.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer acknowledged Murray's talent, highlighting his legacy as one of the greatest high school quarterbacks of all time. “Kyler, if you want to help,” Schottenheimer joked, “but no, obviously you can’t speak about Kyler Murray without talking about what an incredible player he was at Allen in high school.”
Dak Prescott, the Cowboys’ quarterback, is aware of Murray’s record at the stadium. “I’ve heard that stat,” Prescott said. “I think that’s mad impressive. Not honestly surprised. Something that I’m sure he wants to continue and build off of, and I’m here to make sure that doesn’t happen this Monday.”
Murray faces the challenge of convincing Arizona fans that his return from Jacoby Brissett is a positive move. During the two games he missed due to a foot injury, Brissett threw for 599 yards, significantly boosting the passing offense, which had been ranked 30th when Murray was injured.
Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon explained that the team is focusing on improving their performance. “I think we looked at a couple things that might help him out that he feels maybe a little more comfortable with in some things that we’ve been doing,” Gannon said. “But he’ll be his normal self when he gets out there.”
A chance to reset
The Cardinals have lost all five games in their current skid by a combined 13 points, a surprisingly small margin. The first three losses came on last-play field goals, prompting Gannon to believe the recent bye week provided a much-needed opportunity to regroup.
“I do think it’s a good little time to reset here and really focus on some controllables moving forward as it relates to everybody playing a little bit better,” Gannon said.
Monday, Monday
The Cowboys are about to play their second consecutive game on a Monday, a rare occurrence in the NFL. Their next game will be against the Las Vegas Raiders on November 17, following a bye week. The Raiders were the only other team to do this, in 1996 under similar circumstances.
Dallas has a Thanksgiving Day game every year, along with numerous prime-time matchups, so quirky schedules are not unusual. “I think people love or hate the Cowboys, and that’s part of why we play, how we play, where we play and whatnot,” Schottenheimer said. “It really doesn’t matter. These guys are going to play anybody any time, anywhere. I can’t say that it’s not something that is definitely noticeable when you look at the schedule.”
Campbell's milestone
Arizona defensive lineman Calais Campbell is set to make his 250th start in the upcoming game. The 39-year-old, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, has remained productive in his 18th NFL season. He has recorded three sacks, two behind team leader Josh Sweat, and 19 tackles.
This milestone will occur in the spotlight for a player who spent his first nine seasons in Arizona as a second-round pick. After being a 2017 All-Pro with Jacksonville and spending eight seasons elsewhere, Campbell is now back with the team that drafted him.
“I don't know if you guys can tell, but I love football,” Campbell said. “It started from being a kid and watching the big prime-time games. Back then there was only a few games on TV, but the Monday night game was always the biggest.”
Take those stats and shove them
The Cowboys are struggling with an inconsistent season, marked by a dramatic swing between their best and worst performances. A 44-22 victory over Washington was followed by a 44-24 loss at Denver. Despite this, the team still boasts one of the NFL's best offenses.
Schottenheimer is growing tired of the narrative that focuses on their defensive struggles. “Our scorecard is what it is,” he said. “And that’s not just defensively. That’s offensively. We’re a football team that’s 3-4-1. You can take stats on offense and shove them as far as I’m concerned. It is what it is. We want to win.”