Cardinals HC suggests Kyler Murray could revert to previous playing style

As noted by the StatMuse website, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray averaged a career-low 4.59 rushing attempts per game as the 2024 Cardinals ultimately went 8-9. 

Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon indicated to reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine that Murray could return to his previous rushing ways this fall. 

"I would say [with a] dual-threat quarterback, we always got quarterback run game up," Gannon explained, Pro Football Talk's Charean Williams shared. "Some games more than others he extends and runs. I like when he extends and throws it down the field over people’s heads, but there’s no doubt he has that element to his game, and when he uses it, if he uses it at the appropriate time, he can kill you. I’m glad he’s our quarterback."

Murray required ACL surgery that included some meniscus repair following the injury he suffered on Dec. 12, 2022. He returned to regular-season action the subsequent November, and many assumed he'd be at least his old self, if not better, by the start of the 2024 campaign. 

According to Pro Football Reference, Murray ended this past regular season ranked ninth in the NFL among qualified players with a 66.5 adjusted QBR and tied for 16th with a 93.5 passer rating. Over 17 contests, he tossed 21 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions. He was also fourth among quarterbacks with 572 rushing yards and tied for sixth with five scores on the ground. 

Earlier this month, NFL analyst Ian Valentino of The 33rd Team named Murray as a "surprise NFL trade candidate," in part because the 27-year-old may soon "be angling for more" money after he signed a five-year contract extension reportedly worth $230.5M with $160M guaranteed in the summer of 2022. While accepting blame for why the 2024 Cardinals missed the playoffs, Gannon strongly indicated Murray isn't going anywhere. 

"I don’t think it’s the quarterback," Gannon added during his comments. "It’s the whole team. Myself, it’s the whole team. I’m really excited where [Murray is] at right now. I really am. I’m not going to make any power statements but he’s going to have a hell of a year, I know that."

The Cardinals haven't played in a playoff game since January 2022 and haven't won a postseason contest since January 2016. If at least one of those streaks doesn't end next winter, rumors about Arizona possibly moving on from Murray will again hover over the franchise.