Kyler Murray Taking Rehab “One Day at a Time” as He Works Towards 2023 Debut
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is focused on his rehabilitation and taking it “one day at a time” as he works towards making his 2023 debut. Murray suffered an ACL injury on December 12, 2022, and has been steadily progressing in his recovery.
In his first media appearance since the injury, Murray expressed optimism about his daily improvement. He has been actively participating in the team’s training camp, both in the classroom and on the field, taking mental reps to familiarize himself with the new offense.
While Murray has set a goal to return for Week 1, he acknowledges that it may not be possible. He emphasized the importance of patience and not rushing the recovery process.
“Obviously, me being the competitor I am, do I want to miss any time? No,” Murray said. “It’s not on my mind, but we’re not even in August yet. So, I’m taking it one day at a time.”
As Murray continues his rehab, he is unsure how much practice time he will need to be fully ready for his return. This injury is new territory for him, and he is gradually increasing his running activities. He has reached a point where he can cut, indicating progress in his physical abilities.
However, Murray admitted that the mental aspect of his recovery has been challenging. He has had to overcome mental hurdles and fears associated with certain movements. For instance, he initially needed assistance from a physical therapist to bend his knee due to fear. But he believes that with more repetitions and experience on the field, his confidence will grow.
Despite missing OTAs, minicamp, and the first week of training camp, Murray does not feel behind in learning the Cardinals’ new offense. He credits his ability to pick up the system quickly to his dedication to mental reps and constant engagement with the coaching staff.
“It is a lot more wordy than we’ve been accustomed to, so it’s getting there though,” Murray said. “I’m picking it up pretty fast, pretty well. I think the coaches would say so, as well. We’re doing things to allow me, again, to learn faster. So, if I wasn’t taking the reps mentally and just spitting it out, like at home, in the mirror, to the coaches, whatever it is, in the meetings, then, yeah, I’d probably be behind but the fact that we’re on it and we’re constantly doing it, it’s been easy.”
Murray expressed excitement about the changes in the Cardinals’ offense under new coordinator Drew Petzing. He looks forward to operating under center more frequently and believes that the team’s emphasis on the running game will make them less predictable and more effective overall.
“I believe we’ll be able to run the ball a lot better, which will only be you know, a weapon for us to be able to get under center, mix it up, won’t be as predictable,” Murray said. “And if you can run the ball, it makes everything a lot easier.”
Reflecting on the initial stages of his injury, Murray described the first two weeks as “hell.” It was his first experience with such a significant injury, and he struggled with pain, sleeplessness, and immobility. However, he has made significant progress since then and continues to improve every day.
“Once you go through it, or if you haven’t gone through it, you don’t really know what to expect,” he said. “So, got better every day, though.”
Murray’s return to the field will undoubtedly be eagerly anticipated by Cardinals fans. As he takes his rehab “one day at a time,” he remains focused on regaining his strength and readiness to lead the team in the upcoming season.