Arizona @ Seattle preview
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Last Meeting ( Nov 19, 2020 ) Arizona 21, Seattle 28
It seems the Seattle Seahawks might not be getting any breaks when it comes to opposing quarterbacks this week, either.
After Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers was cleared by COVID-19 protocols the day before the Seahawks met the Packers at snowy Lambeau Field, a game Green Bay won 17-0, it appears Arizona's Kyler Murray is on the mend as the Cardinals prepare for this weekend's trip to Seattle.
Murray, who has missed the past two games with a sprained left ankle, returned to practice Wednesday.
"It's one of those things where you're not really making it worse even though it may feel that way," Murray said. "Just kinda gotta get used to that and work through it. It gets better as it goes. ...
"I've made crazy progress. I'm way further along than I thought I would be. And like coach said, I'm pretty close."
Murray was in the midseason MVP conversation before the injury as he's passed for 2,276 passing yards and 17 touchdowns in eight games. He leads the NFL with a 72.7 completion percentage.
"We'll see," Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said when asked about Murray returning against Seattle. "He was out there moving around pretty good (Wednesday) and has just gotten better each day. We shall see how it progresses ...
"We gotta make sure he's comfortable. I don't have odds, but I've been hopeful each week that he could kinda turn the corner on it and hasn't yet completely, but hopefully this is the week."
The Cardinals (8-2), with a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West, have a bye next week so they could be cautious with Murray.
Kingsbury said backup Colt McCoy, who was knocked out of last Sunday's 34-10 home loss to Carolina with a pectoral injury, should be ready to go if Murray isn't.
Leading receiver DeAndre Hopkins has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury and still hadn't returned to practice by midweek. Also missing practice time were defensive lineman Corey Peters (shoulder), offensive lineman Justin Pugh (calf), linebacker Tanner Vallejo (knee), running back Jonathan Ward (concussion) and safety James Wiggins (knee).
The Seahawks (3-6) got quarterback Russell Wilson back last week after he missed three games following finger surgery, yet still suffered their first shutout since 2011 -- the year before Wilson entered the league.
Wilson was 20 of 40 for 161 yards with two interceptions -- both in the end zone.
"I felt confident in my hand," Wilson said. "I felt confident with all the hard work. It was just a bad game in those two plays really. Those really were the defining moments of the game. When you're playing good football teams, that's usually what it is. They either go your way or they don't. I didn't play timid at all."
Seahawks running back Chris Carson returned to practice last week after missing four straight games with a neck injury but wasn't on the active roster for the game against the Packers.
Carson has missed practice time this week, and his status remains uncertain.
"What I would say is he didn't make the positive progress that we would have hoped. We're still working with him. I don't have a good update for you," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "Just have to wait a couple more days and we'll have more."
Seahawks left tackle Duane Brown suffered a hip strain against the Packers and has also missed practice this week, as have wide receiver DK Metcalf (foot), offensive tackle Jamarco Jones (back), tight end Gerald Everett (groin) and defensive end Kerry Hyder Jr. (calf).
--Field Level Media