2023-10-18 00:19:16
It was nearly 10 months ago when Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray crumpled to the ground during a late-season Monday Night Football game once morest the New England Patriots. Carted off the field at State Farm Stadium, Murray was diagnosed with a torn ACL, a knee injury that ended his season and has not allowed him to take the field in 2023.
However, that might soon change for the two-time Pro Bowl selection. Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon on Tuesday said Murray is “trending in the right direction” toward a return to action — and he might even practice at the team’s facility this week.
Gannon hints at K1’s imminent return
During a Tuesday appearance on Arizona Sports 98.7, first-year head coach Gannon said Murray had a strong week rehabbing his affected right knee — strongly implying that he might be taken off the Physically Unable to Perform list by Wednesday.
The Cardinals then would have 21 days to officially designate Murray to return to the active roster and eventually supplant Joshua Dobbas as the starting quarterback. If that’s the case, Murray’s first game back might be at home once morest the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 12.
“We’re making sure that he feels good regarding going out there, but he’s trending in the right direction,” Gannon said.
A resurgence in the desert?
The Cardinals were expected to be one of the NFL’s worst teams this season, especially with Murray on the shelf recovering from injury. As anticipated, Arizona’s 1-5 record has it in contention for a top-five pick at the 2024 NFL Draft — but the Cardinals have been feisty and competitive, and might easily have a couple more wins under their belts.
Arizona had the lead in each of the season’s first three games, but it only won once. The Cardinals also led AFC powerhouse Cincinnati in the first half of their Week 5 matchup, but turnovers from Dobbs once morest the Bengals and once morest the Los Angeles Rams culminated in defeats once morest both teams.
Murray’s return may not put more wins on the board right away, but it will give Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort a chance to see where the Cardinals roster needs to be bolstered around the star quarterback — with an eye on consistent success down the line.
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