10:06 pm | August 8, 2019 | Go to Source | Author:
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Kyler Murray was nearly perfect in his first NFL action.
The first overall draft pick went 6-for-7 passing for 44 yards in 10 snaps in a 17-13 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night at State Farm Stadium in his preseason debut. He didn’t return after the Cardinals’ first offensive drive, which resulted in a punt.
“I thought it was smooth. I was anxious to get out there, move around and throw it a little bit,” Murray said. “I really just tried to execute whatever coach called, and I think we did that for the most part.”
Murray ran the entire drive out of the shotgun, utilizing an array of quick passes, short passes and run-pass options to complement the Cardinals’ run game, spearheaded in the first drive by David Johnson.
The Cardinals used a variety of formations, including lining up four wide receivers three times. They used three receivers five times and two receivers one time.
But Murray showed a veteran’s poise in the pocket, which was clean for most of his time on the field. He escaped pressure on his final play of the drive, rolling to his right, where he bought time and completed a pass to rookie receiver KeeSean Johnson, but the play was negated because Johnson came back in from out of bounds to make the catch.
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Kyler Murray craved more playing time in his Cardinals’ preseason debut, but says he felt natural after a 6-for-7 passing performance.
Murray was sacked on another play, but he avoided contact by diving forward.
There were also two plays on which Murray used a run-pass option. On one of them, he pulled back the handoff and quickly completed a pass to Trent Sherfield.
The only thing Murray didn’t do Thursday night was run the ball.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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