The Arizona Cardinals made sweeping organizational changes this offseason, hiring general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon. As the franchise enters a transition year in 2023, there is still uncertainty surrounding quarterback Kyler Murray.
Murray suffered a torn ACL in Week 14, going down with the non-contact knee injury in a Dec. 12 matchup against the New England Patriots. It cast a cloud over the Cardinals’ offseason plans, with a belief around the league that Murray would miss part of the 2023 season.
- Kyler Murray stats (2022): 87.2 QB rating, 14-7 TD-INT, 66.4% completion, 418 rush yards
Prior to the injury, Murray wasn’t playing well in his final season with Kliff Kingsbury. He had a career-worst 3.6 percent touchdown rate with the lowest passer rating (87.2) and yards per game average (215.3) in his NFL career.
A turbulent 2022 season for the Cardinals saw tensions develop within the locker room. Murray was at odds with Kingsbury and the young quarterback faced criticism from former teammates. While Arizona hopes a new coaching staff gets the most out of Murray, there is still uncertainty for his return from ACL surgery.
Speaking to reporters this week, Gannon said the team will not put a timeline on when Murray will return to the field. One thing Arizona’s coach made clear, though, Murray won’t play until he is both physically and mentally ready.
“You’re always wrong when you do that. So, whenever he’s ready to play, he’ll play.”
Arizona Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon on why the team won’t put a timeline on Kyler Murray’s return
- Kyler Murray contract: $16.007M cap hit (’23), five-year and $230.5 million contract
While several players have returned to the field less than a year after suffering a torn ACL, circumstances are different with Murray. A two-time Pro Bowl selection, he heavily relies on his athleticism and movement to extend plays and make throws on the move.
Arizona can’t afford to rush him back, especially as he approaches the first year of his contract extension. Allowing Murray to play too quickly would jeopardize the long-term health of one of the highest-paid NFL quarterbacks.
Considering the physical and mental roadblocks still ahead, the expectation should be Murray missing multiple games to start the regular season. In his absence, Colt McCoy will likely be the Cardinals’ starting quarterback.
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