How Joe Burrow Helped Kyler Murray During ACL Recovery

Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray says he received advice from Joe Burrow on working back from a torn ACL.

Months ago, Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray suffered what was considered to be a borderline career-ending injury in a torn ACL (while also suffering a torn meniscus). He's since worked vigorously in attacking his rehab to return to the field, though the challenge of overcoming such adversity is something he wasn't prepared for. 

"After I got hurt, just laying in bed with it elevated, it actually didn't hurt that bad at that time. Then you get the surgery and nobody can really prepare you for the pain or not being able to go to sleep or just not be able to move really [and] having everybody take care of you pretty much," Murray told reporters at training camp. 

"So I wasn't really ready for that, everybody tried to you warn me about it, but like I said if you haven't gone through it, you don't really know what to expect. Got better every day, though. I got better every day - that was a positive. Two weeks of hell pretty much, first two weeks were pretty bad. But it got better.

"Really, this whole thing is kind of mental. First time I bent my knee, the PT had to bend it for me because I was too scared to do it."

Murray says he received some advice from Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow when the two ran into each other at a UFC event in the offseason. 

Burrow previously suffered a torn ACL back in 2020 (which also occurred in the later part of the season) but has since returned to establishing himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the league. 

"I was at a UFC event not too long ago in Miami, I was talking to Joe [Burrow], he had obviously tore his [ACL] and he told me one thing that he dealt with was being hesitant in the pocket. I think that's something - obviously he did his left - but that's something that every athlete [endures]," Murray said. 

"You get a little scared to run the first time you pull a hammy and then I think with reps, with everything confidence comes in. Even in the weight room I'm doing things the first time I do it I might be hesitant. The first time I jumped, I was hesitant. We're preparing the body, preparing the mind to be able to do those things. I do think the first time I'm out there maybe I might be [nervous] but with the reps I think the confidence will grow and grow."

The hope is for Murray to return to replicate the same success. 

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