The clock is ticking for Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals. The 2025 season represents something of a do-or-die season for the 1st overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, and in order to give himself and this franchise the best chance of succeeding this season, Murray may need to turn back the hands on that ticking clock and once again become the player he was prior to a December 2022 ACL tear.
This is a task that is far easier said than done, but for the first time since returning to the field in the middle of the 2023 NFL season, Kyler Murray seems to believe he’s ready to play a full season of football without the effects of that knee injury still lingering.
“Now I feel like I’m back to where I was before that,” Murray said July 28, per Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. “Obviously, my knee will probably never be the same as far as that goes.”
Murray noted that based on conversations he had with other players around the NFL who have come back from ACL injuries, it’s the second full season after the return when, “you finally feel like yourself.”
So what does this mean for Murray and the Cardinals in 2025?
Cardinals Offense May Include More ‘Sauce,’ Murray Runs
Back in June, Cardinals tight end Trey McBride hinted that Arizona’s offense would be adding some new wrinkles in 2025. McBride referred to these wrinkles, such as more motion or different personnel groupings, as “a lot of sauce” that puts “a little extra flavor” on what the Cards have run in past seasons.
One saucy wrinkle we may see in 2025 is Murray returning to pre-ACL injury form and being more of a rushing threat in Arizona’s offense. In 2020, Murray’s breakout season, the second-year quarterback rushed 113 times for 819 yards and 11 touchdowns, making him one of just eight players in the NFL with at least 800 rushing yards and at least 10 touchdowns.
Back in April, Murray told reporters that he did indeed expect to see more designed runs in 2025 than he has at any point since returning from the ACL tear.
“I do feel like I have to run more next year. I’m open to running more next year, just because it’s such a weapon,” Murray said, per Kevin Patra of NFL.com. “Like when I hand the ball off obviously I hand the ball off to James (Conner), I hand off to Trey (Benson), we’re a very good rushing team, which is a great thing. But when Lamar (Jackson) hands the ball off everybody is like ‘Ahh’, like you can relax, Josh (Allen) hands the ball off, ‘Ahh’, you know what I mean?”
Kyler Murray Maturing Into Leader Cardinals Need
Although Kyler Murray’s leadership qualities have been called into question in the past, all signs coming from Arizona is that these concerns have been quieted over the last couple of seasons. In the early days of training camp this year, two of Murray’s top targets — McBride and second-year wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. — both explained how Murray has united the offense.
“I think the closer we are, the more you’re gonna wanna play for one another, the more you’re gonna wanna give it your all for one another. And I think that’s something Kyler has done a great job of bringing everybody together to grow the offense and to grow as a team,” McBride said, according to Howard Balzer of Cardinals Wire.
In just one year, Harrison has seen growth from his quarterback in this area.
“Obviously, I’ve only been here for about a year, (but) for me I see the leader who he is,” Harrison proclaimed. “I know he kind of has his own perception of what a lot of people think of him. It’s just like when I got here, it was the total opposite. He’s just been such a great leader. He talks to all the guys, uplifts everybody. It really brings out the best in everybody.”
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray Puts Knee Injuries Behind Him Heading Into 2025 Season