If Clayton Tune starts for the Cardinals at quarterback this weekend, it will be his first NFL start and his first time playing alongside an offensive line during the regular season.
But the fifth-round rookie may benefit from the fact that it won’t be his first snap.
Regarding his fake punt/pass that he made at Seattle on October 22, Tune said, “I think there is another point of view being on the sideline and being in the middle of the field, so putting that out of the way, what that play did for me.”
“But it’s a totally distinct ballgame when you’re taking on 70 snaps compared to one.”
Michael Wilson, a fellow rookie, received Tune’s pass in full. Even though Tune didn’t gain a first down on the four-yard pass, it did provide him a preview of what he could expect on Sunday in Cleveland.
Regarding who will start at quarterback for the Cardinals on Sunday, nothing is official yet. Coach Jonathan Gannon stated that if Kyler Murray is at last prepared to leave the PUP list, he would start; if not, Tune will receive the start following the trade of Joshua Dobbs, who started the first eight games.
Murray could not be reached for comment.
Regarding the recovering Murray, Gannon stated, “He’s fired up, ready to go.” “On Wednesday, at the team meeting, he performed incredibly well. When you put him to the test (with a question), he performed admirably.
When the Cardinals added veteran Jeff Driskel back to the practice squad, they provided themselves with a non-Kyler option for the game against the Browns. Prior to being let go when Murray’s practice window opened, Driskel was a member of the practice squad. With Dobbs gone, the team required a third quarterback.
In the event that Murray played, Tune would stay in reserve. If Tune starts, Murray probably stay on PUP for a few more days, and Driskel will be moved up to the backup position on Sunday.
Although Murray was officially labeled as fully recovered on Wednesday’s injury report, his return to the field will depend on factors other than his physical condition, as the coaches have often stated.
The process of entering and exiting the huddle has numerous facets, both operationally and strategically, according to offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. Like watching someone play on July 28th during the regular season. In all likelihood, he has essentially had that many practices.
“Getting him up to speed, making him ready to go, which is a big task.”
Though several of his teammates have never collaborated with him on the field before, Murray is making an impression on them.
With a smile, tackle D.J. Humphries recalled last week’s incident in which he tossed a ball during practice and offensive lineman Trystan Colon said, “Does it look like that every time, bro?” “Oh, you are ignorant. It escaped me. I neglected. Observing it is a lovely experience.”
Murray has to be activated by November 8 at the latest, and the team’s next game is against Atlanta at home on November 12; if Murray decides to wait an additional week, Tune will have his opportunity.
As a rookie, Tune said there “is some merit” to having the opportunity to sit and observe the NFL game up close before having the opportunity to play, but he said he has been preparing the same way he has been all season. While this was going on, Tune spent numerous hours learning the game with Petzing and QB coach Israel Woolfork.
“He does things under the scenes with those guys which gets him mental reps as well as from the communication standpoint of it,” Gannon explained. NFL is different from college football, even merely in terms of studying the game. Things that Clayton might not know, but Kyler might.
“Just talking ball a lot of all the time, and he’s actually taken to that.”
Humphries claimed that Tune exudes confidence in his ability to control his emotions when leading the huddle and that if he plays, he will do so with ease.
That won’t, however, diminish his fleeting moment in Seattle or the significance of his career’s first pass, no matter what happens with his first completion in his first start.
Tune grinned and added, “It’ll remain the Michael Wilson one.”