NFC Notes: Cardinals, 49ers, Rams

Cardinals

Cardinals QB Kyler Murray was able to play Sunday against the Patriots despite spraining his shoulder the week before. But at times in the 20-17 loss, it looked like Murray might have been playing it cautiously to avoid any kind of hit. Given how big of a factor Murray’s running ability is, that’s significant for the Cardinals offense. But he said afterward he didn’t change anything up. 

“I didn’t adjust anything, like I said, if they play me, I have to hand the ball off,” Murray said via Pro Football Talk. “You know, thought I probably could have checked it down maybe a couple — once or twice more than I did, you know, in the pass game. But other than that, there wasn’t really any situations where you know, I shied way from a hit or anything like that. I mean, they hit me a couple times anyway, so I played with — like I said, I wasn’t going to play if I couldn’t be myself.”

49ers

• CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora says the 49ers have already made inquiries about adding to their defensive staff this offseason. 49ers DC Robert Saleh is expected to be a hot coaching candidate this offseason. 
• The 49ers are concerned CB Jamar Taylor tore his ACL Sunday against the Rams. (Matt Maiocco)

Rams

A consistent theme in the Rams’ losses this season has been the play of QB Jared Goff, particularly in the turnover department. The Rams lost 23-20 to the 49ers on Sunday and Goff threw two picks and lost a fumble. Rams HC Sean McVay, usually reticent to put the blame anywhere except on himself, said afterward that Goff “has got to take better care of the football.”

“It might be keeping two hands on the ball, it might be that if somebody is swarming around you that you can’t just throw it away when you don’t see where you’re going, being able to trust your guys to separate,” McVay said via ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry. “But overall, any time that you turn it over as many times as we did and he did, it’s just got to be better. He’s capable of it, but we just got to be able to get it done.”

• CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora notes Rams DC Brandon Staley is starting to create some buzz in league circles as a potential head coaching candidate.