From Top to Bottom, Cardinals Excited for Kyler Murray's Return

The Arizona Cardinals are quite excited to welcome Kyler Murray back in the mix.

ARIZONA -- Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is back like he never left.

Perhaps because Murray actually didn't leave. After tearing his ACL in Week 14 of last season, Murray had ACL surgery in early January and went right to work on his rehab, which was reportedly done in Arizona. 

Throughout various offseason events, Murray has been spotted in/around the team facility in Tempe. He's been involved in meetings and has been a bystander at every practice in his attempt to get back to playing.

It's been a long process for both Murray and the Cardinals, though the next step in his recovery was taken earlier this week when he was designated to return from reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP). 

A 21-day practice window was opened for Murray, who has already been ruled out ahead of the team's Week 7 road trip against the Seattle Seahawks. While his exact return date is unknown, Murray has garnered plenty of praise through the last few days from top to bottom.

Cardinals Excited for Kyler Murray's Return

GM Monti Ossenfort

“It’s really just the next step in the process,” Ossenfort said to Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke on Murray's designation. 

“It was great to see him back out on the field, to be able to throw to live receivers, to throw to our receivers."

Ossenfort also touched on Murray's timetable for return, which didn't reveal much:

“I think there’s a couple components to (his return),” Ossenfort said. “We have to remember, it’s close to 10 and a half, 11 months since Kyler’s played live football. A lot’s happened since then. We’ve had a new staff, a new offense and things have been changed. Terminology has been changed, there’s been new teammates Kyler hasn’t thrown to before. … I can’t give you an exact time of when that’ll be.”

HC Jonathan Gannon

The following are quotes from press conferences this week:

On how QB Kyler Murray took the news that he'd been designated for return:

"He gave me the news. He's excited."

On when he will be comfortable enough with Murray's recovery for him to play:

"We'll take it day-by-day and see where both of those guys are at relating to playing. Just take it day-by-day."

On who will determine when Murray is ready to play:

"That's an organizational decision, but he's a big part of that."

On how curious he is to see where Murray's is at recovery-wise:

"I'm very curious but I know the work that he's put in. The people that have helped him get to this point you can't praise enough. The whole medical staff and all that. The performance staff and the doctors. He hasn't taken a snap in this offense either, so we've got to see him do a lot of things, but I know he's excited to get out there and start playing some football."

On Sr. Reconditioning Coordinator Buddy Morris and his role in Murray's rehab:

"Buddy has been instrumental and aside from being brilliant, he knows how to work with different athletes. He knows what they're going through, when to push, when to pull off, when to be positive and when to crack the whip a little bit too. Like I’ve said that whole side, the medical and performance staff they've done a great job with him. Other guys as well. (With) Budda and the injury that he had going into Week 2 there (for him) to be able to practice today is a huge boost for our team, I think. We'll take it day-by-day with Budda as well but when those guys have major injuries to be able to get back and practice to the level that we feel comfortable with that they're safe and can go perform, its guys doing their job at a high level."

On if the team needed an emotional lift with Baker and Murray returning to practice:

"No. They're all about business. We had good meetings on Monday and good meetings today. They're excited to get out there and practice. We've got to put all our energy, effort and focus on doing the little things to beat Seattle in Seattle."

On Murray's reaction when he was told he could return to practice:

"Well, he told me and says, 'I'm practicing today.' I said, 'Great. See you out there.'”

On his reaction to finding out Murray was returning to practice:

"Great. See you out there.' Obviously, he's our franchise quarterback, so I was happy about it."

On if QB Joshua Dobbs is affected by Murray’s return to practice:

"Not at all. He's going to go out and play real well versus Seattle. I know that."

“They add an element of juice to practice.”

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon says just the return of QB Kyler Murray and S Budda Baker “ratcheted things up a notch” in practice@PHNX_Cardinals | #BirdGang pic.twitter.com/rjHggjLSCb

— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) October 20, 2023

QB Coach Israel Woolfork

“He’s running with our 2s right now against our starting defense.”#AZCardinals quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork on Kyler Murray, who is getting some reps with the first-team.

Murray is “locked in” added Woolfork.

-⁦@CraigAZSports⁩ pic.twitter.com/I6FnKrfsXG

— Arizona Cardinals Insiders 🎤🎙 (@AZCardsInsiders) October 20, 2023

QB Josh Dobbs/WR Marquise Brown

LT D.J. Humphries

#AZCardinals OL D.J. Humphries on what he’s seen from Kyler Murray this week:

“I’m not a medical professional at all … but I don’t really see any hitches or anything like that, so that’s always promising for somebody coming off something as traumatically serious as he did.” pic.twitter.com/AnwzVfwNos

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) October 20, 2023