The Arizona Cardinals have been surprisingly competitive early in the 2023 NFL season with backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs. Even with Arizona fighting for positioning in the 2024 NFL Draft order, it appears as if starting quarterback Kyler Murray will be back on the field this year.
Murray, age 26, suffered a torn ACL against the New England Patriots on Dec. 12, 2022. With athleticism and mobility essential to his success, Arizona was never going to rush its Pro Bowl quarterback back onto the field in 2023.
- Kyler Murray stats (career): 13,848 passing yards, 84-41 TD-INT, 66.8% completion rate, 92.5 quarterback rating, 2,204 rushing yards, 23 rushing touchdowns in 57 games
Related: Kyler Murray’s future with Arizona Cardinals reportedly uncertain
Signed to a $230 million contract extension, Murray is already paid like a franchise quarterback. However, Arizona brought in a new regime this past offseason with very few ties to Murray. Despite making a strong impression on the coaching staff, his future with the club hasn’t been considered a guarantee.
Noe 10 months removed from the ACL tear, Murray is moving closer towards stepping foot on the practice field and taking a critical step towards playing. However, it’s likely going to be some time before the Cardinals’ star is back out there against a real opponent.
Appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, Ian Rapoport addressed Murray’s situation in Arizona, explaining the progress he’s made but also adding that he doesn’t believe the former top pick is on the verge of a return.
“This year, yes, I do think he’ll be on the field this year. I think there are a lot of reasons why. He is getting better, he is improving. I do not think he’s close to playing in a game, but he is improving…His practie window will open, I’d say probably relatively soon, but then it’s going to be a slow process anyway.”
Ian Rapoport on the status of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray
- Kyler Murray contract: $16.007M cap hit (’23), five-year and $230.5 million contract
From Arizona’s perspective, there’s zero reason to rush him back. Sitting at 1-5, the Cardinals are already well-positioned to have one of the top picks in 2024. Furthermore, the only reason for putting Murray back out onto the field is to both ensure he’s healthy and see if he’s a fit for the team’s new offensive system.
The Cardinals don’t have a bye until Week 14 in December, so holding Murray out until then seems unlikely. However, Arizona could target a matchup in November against a team like the Atlanta Falcons (Nov. 12) or Houston Texans (Nov. 19) as a soft target date for Murray’s return to the field.
In the meantime, the Cardinals’ coaching staff will continue evaluating its young offensive linemen, receivers and running backs with Dobbs orchestrating the offense. Once there’s complete confidence Murray is ready to play, he’ll take over as the starter for the remainder of the season.