Kliff Kingsbury weighing QB options, hoping Colt McCoy returns this week

Cardinals quarterback Colt McCoy remained in concussion protocol on Monday after missing Arizona’s Christmas night loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Trace McSorley got the nod and “battled,” as head coach Kliff Kingsbury put it, in his first NFL start. He completed 24 of 45 passes on Sunday for 217 yards and an interception on a Hail Mary.

Kingsbury’s hope is to get McCoy back for the lame duck final two games of the regular season. Part of the reason why concerns the 2023 campaign, considering starter Kyler Murray will have knee surgery to repair a torn ACL reportedly on Jan. 3.

“We want to make sure that we’re first and foremost following all player safety protocols,” Kingsbury said on Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke Monday afternoon. “Then we want to win the game and whoever can give us the best chance at that point we want to play.

“With Colt, it’s a guy who because of our situation early next year, who knows what that’s going to look like with Kyler’s recovery and his rehab going on. That is an injury that varies on who comes back when. (McCoy) may be our starter going into the year so we’d love to build some more confidence with him and get him feeling even more comfortable going into the offseason.”

ACL surgery could take 6-9 months of recovery, which would push up against the start of the 2023 season.

McCoy signed a two-year contract with Arizona last offseason and is the in-house choice to start games next year should Murray miss the first stretch of the season, possibly on the Physically Unable to Perform list.

But Kingsbury said a decision to play McCoy down the stretch will come from up top based on his health.

For McSorley, playing the final two games could be a tryout of sorts, and Kingsbury feels there is an evaluation element if McSorley remains in the fold.

“You want to see what you’ve got in Trace, as well,” Kingsbury said. “Could more game reps and another week being the starter propel him? It’s not an easy decision, but it’s one that will be made with all our input here and we’ll kind of take it day by day the next few days and then figure out which direction we’re going.”

McSorley is only signed through the rest of the season and could play for a backup role either in Arizona with Murray down or elsewhere.

The Cardinals head to Atlanta to face the Falcons on Sunday.

Kick off is at 11 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7, the Arizona Sports app and ArizonaSports.com.

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