Cardinals QB Kyler Murray's Health Labeled One of NFL's Biggest Distractions
The Arizona Cardinals just completed mandatory minicamp, and now have over a month off until training camp commences on July 27.
Between that time, players will have the opportunity to prepare themselves for a grueling stretch of practices as the 2023 regular season truly begins to approach.
Truth be told, expectations around the Cardinals aren't exactly through the roof thanks to a variety of factors, none of which extend bigger than the status of quarterback Kyler Murray.
Murray is still working his way back from a torn ACL/meniscus, and his return is currently unknown.
Bleacher Report's Alex Kay labeled Murray's road to recovery as one of the league's greatest distractions for the upcoming season.
"The Arizona Cardinals have little hope of contending without Kyler Murray on the field. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, it remains to be seen if the star quarterback will make it back into the lineup in time for the squad to be competitive in 2023. Murray's 2022 season was cut short by a torn ACL, an injury that could keep him sidelined for a significant stretch," said Kay.
"The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport revealed that Murray could miss as much as half the upcoming campaign while he recovers from surgery on the knee. The 25-year-old reportedly isn't going to rush back and will wait until he's "100 percent" recovered before returning. While Murray has displayed strong progress in his rehab—including sharing a video of himself doing weighted squats just 13 weeks after his procedure—there's still no official timetable on when the team may activate him.
"Arizona seemed to finally make real strides towards becoming a Super Bowl threat under the young passer during the 2021 campaign—going 11-6 during the regular season, the club's best showing since 2015—but regressed last year, finishing with an ugly 4-13 record with Murray going 3-8 in his 11 starts.
"With Murray's uncertain status set to loom over this club for the foreseeable future, it appears another rough year is ahead for fans out in the desert."
Storyline? Absolutely. Distraction? That might be a stretch, especially since Murray himself as been quietly rehabbing and mostly keeping to himself.
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