ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals’ Kliff Kingsbury ‘impressed’ with Kyler Murray’s play-calling

Aug 12, 2022, 10:08 PM | Updated: 10:12 pm

Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury handed over play-calling duties to quarterback Kyler Murray in the team’s 36-23 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Taking the headset in the fourth quarter, Murray called around six plays with Jarrett Guarantano operating as Arizona’s signal caller.

The outcomes may not have resulted in touchdowns, and instead were a pair of three-and-outs, but Murray’s head coach was pleased with what he saw from his QB as a play caller.

Even if it wasn’t quite the quantity of plays Kingsbury envisioned Murray calling.

“He called a couple of really nice plays that just didn’t work out,” Kingsbury told reporters postgame. “Had some guys open. He does a good job with it. I’ve been impressed.”

Friday marked the latest instance that Murray has donned a headset at some point.

Ahead of the preseason game, Murray was seen running things from the sideline on numerous occasions this training camp.

With the quarterback dealing with a wrist issue on top of coming off of a COVID-19 stint, it was a good way to keep Murray involved.

He didn’t get the same type of play-calling compliments from Kingsbury like he did following Friday’s game, however.

“He was coaching them up like right until the last second, like while they’re trying to throw he’d be saying stuff, so I probably won’t do that again,” Kingsbury said last week.

“He did a good job. It’s just I would not want to play for Kyler Murray if I was a quarterback and he was the coach,” the head coach added.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Trent Taylor (11) runs in front of Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jace Whittaker (39) during an NFL football preseason game in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Cincinnati Bengals placekicker Evan McPherson, right, boots a field goal against the Arizona Cardinals during an NFL football preseason game in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning (6) looks to pass against the Arizona Cardinals during an NFL football preseason game in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Ward (29) carries against the Cincinnati Bengals during an NFL football preseason game in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Trace McSorley (19) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (29) in the second quarter an NFL football preseason game in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Ward (29) scores a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter during an NFL football preseason game in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Ward (29) celebrates his touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter of an NFL football preseason game in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Arizona Cardinals tight end Deon Yelder, left, and Cincinnati Bengals safety Dax Hill both fail to come down with a pass during the second quarter of an NFL football preseason game in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Trace McSorley (19) throws a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals during an NFL football preseason game in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Cincinnati Bengals place-kicker Evan McPherson celebrates a field goal during the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals in an NFL football preseason game in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Greg Dortch #83 of the Arizona Cardinals makes a catch while being tackled by Bookie Radley-Hiles #38 and Dax Hill #23 of the Cincinnati Bengals in the second quarter during a preseason game at Paycor Stadium on August 12, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater (5) boots an extra point during the second half of an NFL football preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Cincinnati Bengals running back Chris Evans (25) tries to break free from Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Manny Jones (75) during the second half of an NFL football preseason game in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning throws a pass against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football preseason game in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Arizona Cardinals' Greg Dortch (83) runs on a punt return, as Cincinnati Bengals' Justin Rigg (87) prepares to make the tackle during the second half of an NFL football preseason game in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Arizona Cardinals running back Keaontay Ingram (30) receives a handoff from quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (16) during the second half of the team's NFL football preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Arizona Cardinals running back Keaontay Ingram (30) celebrates with Danny Isidora (63) after scoring a touchdown during the second half of the team's NFL football preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning (6) reacts after his team scored during the second half of an NFL football preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor watches from the sideline as his team plays against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football preseason game in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Arizona Cardinals place-kicker Matt Prater (5) kicks a field goal against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter of an NFL football preseason game in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch (83) runs in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals during an NFL football preseason game in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Cincinnati Bengals safety Dax Hill (23) fails to complete an interception in front of Arizona Cardinals tight end Chris Pierce Jr. (49) during the first quarter of an NFL football preseason game in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen, center, runs with the ball in the first quarter during an NFL football preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Andre Baccellia (82) pulls in a pass for a touchdown in front of Cincinnati Bengals safety Dax Hill (23) during the first half of an NFL football preseason game in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Andre Baccellia (82) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during an NFL football preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt walks the sideline during the team's NFL football preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Trace McSorley looks for a receiver during the team's NFL football preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon walks the sideline before an NFL football preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor speaks with players on the field during warmups before the NFL football preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow warms up for the team's NFL football preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Cordell Volson exhales during warmups before an NFL football preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen prepares to throw before an NFL football preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Arizona Cardinals tight end Bernhard Seikovits (80) displays a flag decal on his helmet during warmups before the team's NFL football preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Haggai Ndubuisi (69) displays a U.S. flag decal on his helmet during warmups for the team's NFL football preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Cincinnati Bengals fans watch players warm up for an NFL football preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Trace McSorley (19) hands off to teammate running back Eno Benjamin (26) during warmups before an NFL football preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Trace McSorley throws during warmups before an NFL football preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

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