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          Cardinals' Kyler Murray opens game with 50-yard touchdown run

          • Josh Weinfuss, ESPN Staff WriterOct 6, 2024, 04:38 PM ET
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              Josh Weinfuss is a staff writer who covers the Arizona Cardinals and the NFL at ESPN. Josh has covered the Cardinals since 2012, joining ESPN in 2013. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and a graduate of Indiana University. You can follow him via Twitter @joshweinfuss.
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          SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Kyler Murray knew it.

          Six yards into his 50-yard touchdown run less than two minutes into the first quarter, Arizona Cardinals quarterback knew he was gone. On first-and-10 from the 50, he faked a handoff to running back James Conner and then took off to his right.

          With tight end Elijah Higgins pulling from the left side and blocking 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward, Murray cut inside and was off the races. Then, at the 46, with linebacker De'Vondre Campbell on his left hip, Murray pointed, knowing there was nothing but green grass ahead of him.

          The next two closest 49ers, linebacker Dee Winters and safety Talanoa Hufanga, gave chase but Winters couldn't catch up to Murray as the end zone neared for the Cardinals' longest touchdown run since 2020, when Kenyan Drake went 69 yards in Week 6.

          Murray reached 21.27 MPH, which is the fastest top speed by a QB as a ball carrier on any play since Murray entered the league in 2019.