The return of Kyler Murray will be a game-time decision according to Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury who reiterated they will be cautious with their quarterback.

Murray has not played since sustaining a left ankle sprain in the Week 8 loss to the Green Bay Packers but is closing in on a return to full fitness and availability.

The Cardinals take on the Chicago Bears on Sunday holding a 9-2 record and top spot in the NFC West.

Arizona's winning record has enabled them to maintain a cautious approach for Murray's return, with his absence entering its sixth week.

"There's obviously some cat-and-mouse in this sport, but I mean, with a player like him, the position we're in, we were going to be overly cautious this entire time," Kingsbury told reporters on Friday.

"We still are and so we want to make sure when we get him back, he's playing at a high level, and he can't re-injure it to a point that we lose him for a substantial amount of time."

Kingsbury is also cognisant of the last season's tailspin after starting the season 5-2 before finishing 3-6 with injuries taking their toll and missing the postseason.

"I just think we want to finish the right way this season and we didn't last year," Kingsbury added. "So, we're just trying to be smart about it."

Meanwhile, Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields will miss the game despite making progress in his return from broken ribs.

"Justin's making good progress, [he's] just not there yet medically for the clearance," Bears head coach Matt Nagy told reporters.

Fields, who practised on a limited basis three times this week, will be absent for a second consecutive game with Andy Dalton to start again as QB for the 4-7 Bears.