ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals to place WR Hollywood Brown on IR with heel injury; Kyler Murray to practice

Dec 29, 2023, 9:46 AM | Updated: 2:12 pm

Hollywood Brown, Arizona Cardinals...

Marquise "Hollywood" Brown walks back to the sideline after scoring a 25-yard touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, at State Farm Stadium. (Felisa Cardenas/Arizona Sports)

(Felisa Cardenas/Arizona Sports)

Arizona Cardinals receiver Hollywood Brown will end the 2023 season on injured reserve due to a lingering heel issue that limited his production most visibly since the start of December.

“Just hasn’t been able to kind of overcome what he’s got going on,” Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters on Friday before Arizona visits the Philadelphia Eagles. “So it’s best thing for him, best thing for us to put him on IR.”

The Cardinals announced the move of Brown and defensive tackle Jonathan Ledbetter to the injured reserve and claimed linebacker Trevor Nowaske off waivers from the Detroit Lions.

Arizona has two games left this year, meaning an IR appointment ends Brown’s season as the 26-year-old enters free agency this offseason.

Gannon additionally said Kyler Murray, who hadn’t practiced Wednesday or Thursday because of illness, would be on the field Friday.

Cardinals WR Hollywood Brown’s road to free agency

The Cardinals under then-general manager Steve Keim dealt their 2022 first-round pick (23rd overall) in the NFL Draft to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for Brown and a third-round choice. It paired the former Oklahoma star with Murray, his friend who with the receiver’s help put together a Heisman campaign for the Sooners in 2018.

Brown, a 25th overall pick by Baltimore in 2019, appeared in 14 games this year for Arizona.

He finishes with a career-low 574 receiving yards.

Brown’s best season in the NFL came in 2021, when he posted 1,008 receiving yards and added six touchdowns for the Ravens.

For Arizona, a Brown return could depend on how the receiver is viewed in the open market as an undersized but explosive second or third option.

He has been hit with minor injuries in two seasons with Arizona but has appeared in at least 12 games in every one of his five NFL seasons.

The Cardinals currently project as owners of the second overall 2024 draft pick with games against the Eagles and Seattle Seahawks left this season.

The franchise is widely linked to Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who is projected by many to be a top-five selection.

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals is embracing change amid coaching staff carousel....

Tyler Drake

‘Part of the business’: Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon facing new challenge in Year 3

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is facing a new reality with the departures of multiple assistants this offseason.

1 day ago

A recent ESPN mock draft has the Cardinals taking two cornerbacks in the first two rounds of the NF...

Brandon Cadiz

ESPN’s Matt Miller has Cardinals taking two CBs in Mock Draft

ESPN's analyst Matt Miller has the Cardinals taking two cornerbacks with their first two picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.

2 days ago

Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort looks on. It's officially NFL mock draft season with Arizona's...

Tyler Drake

NFL mock draft tracker: What will Cardinals do with No. 16 pick?

A look across the NFL mock draft landscape when it comes to the Arizona Cardinals' No. 16 overall pick in this year's draft.

3 days ago

The Jaguars are hiring former Cardinals pass game specialist Spencer Whipple as their next QBs coac...

Tyler Drake

Jaguars hiring Cardinals’ Spencer Whipple as their new quarterbacks coach

The Jacksonville Jaguars are hiring Cardinals pass game specialist Spencer Whipple as their next quarterbacks coach.

3 days ago

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs the ball for a touchdown during the secon...

Associated Press

Saquon Barkley can set the NFL total rushing record, but he wants a Super Bowl win

Saquon Barkley is 30 yards shy of breaking the NFL season rushing record, postseason included. He wants a Super Bowl win.

3 days ago

Could the Arizona Cardinals be headed toward adding another offensive line cornerstone in the 2025 ...

Tyler Drake

You can officially put these Ohio State prospects on Cardinals’ NFL Draft radar

Could the connection between Cardinals OL coach Justin Frye and a couple of offensive line prospects impact what Arizona does in the NFL Draft?

3 days ago

Cardinals to place WR Hollywood Brown on IR with heel injury; Kyler Murray to practice