NFL: Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins return for Arizona Cardinals vs Chicago Bears

“I am back,” Arizona Cardinals reported quarterback Kyler Murray’s statement, suggesting that he will start on Sunday against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who was out with an hamstring injury, is also available for the high-octane clash. 

“I think the guys are very focused,” quarterback Kyler Murray said. “Focused on finishing this thing out the way we would like to, going into, hopefully, making a playoff appearance.” The 24-year-old was out with an ankle injury. 

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The Cardinals (9-2) beat San Francisco and Seattle on the road with a loss to Carolina at home in between prior to their bye. Murray and three-time All-Pro receiver Hopkins missed all the games.  Arizona is 6-0 on the road, with all six wins by 10 points or more. The Cardinals are the third NFL team to accomplish that feat along, with the 1968 Cowboys and 1936 Bears.

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Chicago (4-7) lost five in a row before Cairo Santos kicked a game-ending field goal at winless Detroit on Thanksgiving. That capped a week in which coach Matt Nagy was answering questions about his job status.

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“We got the win,” Nagy said. “And now the next focus is on Arizona. This is a really, really good football team that we’ve gotta be completely locked in. It’s a reset now to go 1-0 and you never know how things go for the rest of the season. .. We have a big challenge here and our guys, they’re competitive.”

Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury ahead of the game had said that his quarterback’s (Murray) status would be a game-time decision. The former Texas A&M Aggies player was “better this week,” Kingsbury said, adding he is hopeful that the quarterback will feel good and “be ready to roll.”

With inputs from the Associated Press