Sports
Kyler future in limbo as key Cards decision looms
The Arizona Cardinals made a big decision this week regarding Kyler Murray. Now another decision awaits — one that impacts the future of both the quarterback and the franchise.
The Cardinals must decide by this offseason whether to try to trade Murray, release him or pay another $19.5 million in guaranteed money that becomes due on the fifth day of the new league year in mid-March.
Arizona and Murray are expected to have extensive discussions to help determine whether to move forward together or go their own ways. Many sources believe the latter is the likely outcome, with one source saying this week that “a separation is imminent.”
But there is plenty of time, and much to play and figure out, before either side gets to that spot. For starters, Murray was placed on injured reserve Wednesday with a midfoot sprain, which ensures that he will miss at least four games while Arizona starts Jacoby Brissett at quarterback.
It is another opportunity for Brissett, who some around the league believe has run the Cardinals’ offense at a higher and more efficient level than Murray.
With Brissett starting at quarterback this season, the Cardinals have gone 1-2, averaging 25.7 points and 357 yards per game. With Murray starting, the Cardinals have gone 2-3, averaging 18.8 points and 288 yards per game.
Those, of course, are only some of the numbers; financial ones also are likely to impact this situation. As of now, Murray is guaranteed $36.8 million next year — his 2026 base salary and a large part of his roster bonus.
A key trigger date looms on the fifth day of the new league year in mid-March, when $19.5 million of Murray’s 2027 base salary would become guaranteed if he still is on the roster.
If the Cardinals release him before June 1, they would take on a $57.7 million dead cap hit. If they release him after June 1, that dead money would be split into $50.5 million in 2026 and $7.2 million in 2027.
If the Cardinals were to trade Murray, they would create $35.3 million in cap savings while leaving behind $17.9 million in dead money.
Another point that some around the NFL also believe is pertinent is that neither general manager Monti Ossenfort nor coach Jonathan Gannon were a part of the organization when Murray was drafted or signed his contract extension.
But some around the league also wonder if it could be that Murray is turning into this year’s version of Russell Wilson and Daniel Jones, on a team that does not want to expose itself to having its quarterback get injured and locking in future guaranteed money.
During his last media session Oct. 1, Murray was asked about the Cardinals’ new training facility that is slated to open in 2028.
“I hope I’m here to see it,” he said.
Murray is eligible to return in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 7. Gannon said placing Murray on injured reserve was a collective decision between the Cardinals and the quarterback, along with his representatives, adding it was the best thing to do for both the player and team.
“He’s fully committed,” Gannon said Wednesday. “Right now, what he’s going to concentrate on is getting healthy. He’s not healthy enough to play. He needs to get healthy so he can get back to playing football.”
Chelsea moved to second in the Premier League table on Saturday evening as they secured a 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues made a bright start to the match with Enzo Fernández troubling Sam Johnstone with a free kick early on, before the Argentina international soon played in his compatriot Alejandro Garnacho, who should have done better with the chance. It was a straightforward opening 45 minutes for Chelsea as they maintained control of the game, with the visitors not recording a single shot in the first half, though that didn’t stop some sections of the Stamford Bridge crowd booing their side off at half time with the score locked at 0-0.
The hosts were rewarded for their positive start after the replay as they broke the deadlock through Malo Gusto, heading past Johnstone in the six-yard box after a pinpoint cross from Garnacho. After Estêvão was introduced for Liam Delap in the 64th minute, it took just 68 seconds before he made an impact with a low cross that was diverted into the path of João Pedro to double Chelsea’s advantage.
Garnacho was involved again as he showed his pace down the left flank before cutting the ball across to Pedro Neto, for an easy finish against his former club. That’s now two wins in a row for Chelsea, with a trip to Burnley ahead after the international break.
Positives
A dominant display from Chelsea saw them create regular chances without coming under threat from Wolves. The victory also takes them to second in the Premier League table.
Negatives
The Blues’ could have been more clinical with their finishing in the first half, but the boos from the fans seemed a little harsh given they were in complete control.
Manager rating out of 10
Enzo Maresca, 7 — A well-timed introduction of Estevao saw the Brazil international double Chelsea’s lead almost immediately after Maresca put him on.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Robert Sánchez, 6 — Without a shot to deal with in the first half and an off-target effort from Marc Munetsi in the second, goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was mainly a spectator.
DF Malo Gusto, 7 — A well-timed run and header from Garnacho’s cross in the 52nd minute saw Malo Gusto finally score his first Chelsea goal after 98 appearances!
DF Wesley Fofana, 7 — The 24-year-old helped Chelsea transition play by stepping up in possession, while he also impressed when dealing with set pieces into the box. He could have done better with a chance in the first half from Pedro Neto’s pass but he couldn’t get a strong connection.
DF Trevoh Chalobah, 6 — He was quick to anticipate danger and positioned himself astutely to put an end to Wolves’ limited amount of attacks.
DF Marc Cucurella, 6 — The Spain international created overloads in midfield when inverting from full-back, while keeping the majority of his work simple. Positioned himself intelligently to allow Alejandro Garnacho to isolate his marker.
DM Enzo Fernandez, 8 — Chelsea’s number eight was at the heart of all of the Blues’ best play, creating a big chance early on with an excellent scooped ball for Garnacho, and he almost caught the goalkeeper out on a couple of occasions with dangerous set-piece deliveries.
DM Moisés Caicedo, 7 — Caicedo was at his best as normal when pressing high to win back possession, but he did sometimes mistime his challenges, committing several fouls and picking up a booking.
AM Pedro Neto, 7 — The 25-year-old Portugal international stepped things up in the second half and had much more intent to his play, looking to beat his marker and get balls into the box every time he had possession. Neto then scored against his former club with a simple finish following bright work from Garnacho on the left.
AM Joao Pedro, 6 — Joao Pedro drifted in and out of the game in the first half, and after scuffing his first chance wide, he made no mistake in the second half, hitting with power past Johnstone to double Chelsea’s lead from Estevao’s deflected cross.
AM Alejandro Garnacho, 8 — The Chelsea winger should have done better with his chance after being played in by Fernandez, but he made amends after the break with a swift cut-back and perfectly delivered cross for Gusto’s opener. The former Man United star wrapped the game up with a cut back for Pedro Neto to score the Blues’ third goal.
FW Liam Delap, 5 — It was difficult to find space for the former Man City forward in the first half against Wolves’ back five, but he got more involved in the game after the first goal, and was unlucky not to have been found by Garnacho after he found space in the 63rd minute. Replaced by Estevao shortly after.
Substitutes
FW Estevao (on for Delap, 64″) 7 — Made an instant impact! Just 68 seconds passed before Estevao pushed the ball down the flank and produced an accurate low cross that found a way to Joao Pedro, who doubled Chelsea’s lead.
DF/MF Reece James (on for Gusto, 77″) N/R — Introduced to a rendition of “Reece James, he’s one of our own,” from the Chelsea crowd.
FW Marc Guiu (on for Neto, 77″) N/R — The young forward picked up intelligent positions when the ball was out wide, getting a touch to a powerful cross from Estevao that was directed off target in the 83rd minute.
MF Jamie Gittens (on for Pedro, 83″) N/R — The game had become a training exercise by the time Gittens came on, as he kept things simple from the right-flank, drifting in to find Garnacho that led to a blocked effort in the 91st minute.
MF Andrey Santos (on for Fernandez, 83″) N/R — There was not much for him to do as Chelsea maintained control with their 3-0 lead, as he came on in the same role as Enzo Fernandez and looked to provide options to recycle possession.
Texas Tech All-America forward JT Toppin made his season debut for the Red Raiders on Friday night, scoring 31 points and grabbing 14 rebounds during a 98-77 win over Sam Houston.
The reigning Big 12 Player of the Year, Toppin missed the season opener against Lindenwood because of a lower-body injury. Against the Bearkats, Toppin was 10-for-19 from the field and 11-for-16 from the free throw line while also adding four assists and three steals.
Texas Tech will got back Washington State transfer LeJaun Watts, the preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. Watts, who also missed the Lindenwood game with a lower-body injury, had 11 points and 6 rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench.
The No. 10 Red Raiders next play at No. 17 Illinois on Tuesday.
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Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin has taken an indefinite leave of absence from the team just months after his fiancée, Carolina Matovac, underwent a heart transplant, the team announced Friday.
Head coach Lindy Ruff spoke to reporters Friday and shared that Matovac had not suffered any setbacks, but that Dahlin would be traveling to Sweden as she continues to recover.
Carolina Matovac and Rasmus Dahlin (26) of the Buffalo Sabres pose on the red carpet at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Feb. 1, 2024. (Nicole Osborne/NHLI via Getty Images)
“[Dahlin] said everything is OK,” he said, via ESPN. “I think it’s been incredibly hard. I fully understand what this young man is going through. I don’t think you can describe it. I’m very passionate about the fact that no one would want to walk in his shoes and to have dealt with what he has dealt with. He has the support of everybody on this. This is larger than hockey.”
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Ruff said there was no timetable for Dahlin’s return.
In an open letter to fans in September, Dahlin shared that Matovac had been feeling ill for several days, which led to her experiencing “major heart failure.”
“Fortunately, she received CPR on multiple occasions, and up to a couple of hours at a time to keep her alive, which ultimately saved her life. Without her receiving lifesaving CPR, the result would have been unimaginable. It is hard to even think about the worst-case scenario,” he wrote.
Matovac remained on life support for weeks before receiving the transplant in France.
Rasmus Dahlin (26) of the Buffalo Sabres skates during the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, on April 17, 2025. (Rebecca Villagracia/Getty Images)
“Without the incredible commitment, expertise, care, and sensitivity of all the people who treated Carolina, we would not be in the position that we are in today, with Carolina recovering well and on the path to a full recovery.”
“While Carolina is still working through her rehab to return to be with me in Buffalo, she has demonstrated an incredible determination, spirit, positivity, and resilience that I am in awe of,” Dahlin continued. “This has undoubtedly been the most challenging chapter of our lives, however it is something that we have learned so much from. We will continue to grow from these experiences and are so grateful for all the love and support we have received. We are truly blessed in so many ways and fully realize how fortunate we are.”
Rasmus Dahlin (26) of the Buffalo Sabres prepares for a faceoff during an NHL game against the New York Rangers at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, on Oct. 9, 2025. (Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
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Dahlin, 25, is entering his eighth NHL season after being selected first overall by Buffalo in the 2018 draft. The Swedish defenseman has topped 50 points in each of his past four seasons and was selected to represent his country at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
He has nine points in 14 games this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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