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The Cardinals opened the practice window for QB Kyler Murray this week, the first step toward a return to the football field following ACL surgery.
Early returns suggest positive outcomes so far. Nonetheless, a swift return to the active roster for Murray should not be expected.
Sources say Murray’s return is expected to take multiple weeks, with the most likely outcome that he practices for three weeks, then plays on Nov. 12 against the Falcons. There is also a chance he is able to return on Nov. 5 against the Browns if all goes perfectly well on the field and off it.
The sole responsibility of the team is to ensure he’s physically and mentally prepared to play, with no urgency. As the QB coach Israel Woolfork expressed to the press, “Our main concern is his smooth reintegration into the game.”
Murray tore his ACL on Dec. 12, ending his 2022 season, but he’s been active with the new coaching staff, taking part in all meetings. The early returns have been very positive, but given the Cardinals’ 1-5 record, and given that Murray now has a GM in Monti Ossenfort and head coach in Jonathan Gannon who inherited him, there are evaluations to be made. It’s fair to say all options are on the table for the 2024 offseason.
If Arizona possesses a top pick, it is essential for the team to understand Murray’s performance within its system and his interaction with the coaches. This will enable them to make an informed decision about whether to opt for a top QB and trade Murray. Murray still has five years and approximately $182 million left from his original contract extension of $230.5 million, which was agreed upon before 2022.
A highly favorable contract with a signing bonus that has already been paid.
An organization that has been accumulating draft picks and seems to be in the middle of a rebuild, could at least consider trading a fit Murray to whoever offers the highest bid. However, if Murray performs up to par and everyone wishes for him to be the Cardinals’ long-term quarterback, as he currently is, then Ossenfort’s role becomes simpler – he won’t need to draft a new quarterback.
There’s ample time for everything else to unfold. Currently, the priority is just to get Murray ready for the game.
