Cardinals QB Kyler Murray carted off vs. Patriots, injury ‘doesn’t look good’ according to Kliff Kingsbury

Kyler Murray acknowledges his teammates while he's carted off the field moments into the Cardinals' loss on Monday.Jim Davis/Globe Staff

How it happened: Patriots take down Cardinals on Monday Night Football

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Cardinals lost starting quarterback Kyler Murray on the third play of Monday night’s game against the Patriots.

The team initially ruled Murray as questionable to return with a knee injury, but downgraded him to out at the end of the first quarter.

“Tough to see a player like Murray get hurt,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said after his team’s 27-13 win. “I hope he’s OK.”

With the ball on Arizona’s 41-yard line, Murray scrambled 3 yards and tried to juke Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon before stumbling without being touched. He immediately laid on his back, while Judon motioned for assistance from the Cardinals’ sideline.

Medical staff ran out onto the field to examine Murray, as players from both teams kneeled around him. Moments later, staffers carted Murray to the locker room.

“You never want to see it,” Judon said. “I’m praying for him.”

Colt McCoy, who started in Weeks 10 and 11 when Murray was sidelined with a hamstring injury, entered the game. And he may be tapped to step in once more.

ESPN reported during the game that Murray will have an MRI on Tuesday, but that a source told the outlet there is “little doubt” that Murray suffered a torn ACL.

Cardinals QB Kyler Murray is expected to have an MRI tomorrow but there is "little doubt that it’s torn," a source told me, referring to the quarterback's ACL.

— Josh Weinfuss (@joshweinfuss) December 13, 2022

Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury summed it up briefly after the game: “Doesn’t look good.”

If it is indeed a torn ACL, Murray could be out until at least the start of the 2023 season.

Read more about the Patriots’ win over the Cardinals

• Instant Analysis: The Patriots were hardly challenged by the Cardinals, but a convincing road win was just what they needed
• Shaughnessy: It wasn’t the prettiest football in a place filled with Patriots lore, but Mac Jones and Co. remain in the playoff chase
• In a game of really hard knocks, rookies carried the ball for Patriots in victory over Cardinals
• How it happened: Behind defense, New England scores 20 unanswered points to jump back into playoff race
• ESPN pregame show questions Bill Belichick, and sheds more light on Matt Patricia-Mac Jones relationship