Cardinals owner provides promising update on Kyler Murray's ACL injury return

Kyler Murray is the franchise quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, especially after the team gave him a five-year, $230.5 million contract extension last July. However, the former number-one overall pick suffered an ACL tear in Week 14 versus the New England Patriots last season.

Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell gave an encouraging update on Murray's injury, including a possible timeline of his return in the 2023 season. On The Dave Pasch Podcast, Bidwell commented that the quarterback could return earlier than expected.

Bidwell said:

"I think (his return) is going to be earlier than this mid-season, so hopefully, it's toward the beginning of the season, but I don't want to put any specific dates. There could be setbacks, the progress could slow. But he's a young man, it looks like he is a fast healer and things are going well. Let's hope that keeps going the way it is."

Prior to his injury, Kyler Murray threw for 2,368 yards, 14 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 11 starts in the 2022 season. The former Oklahoma Sooners star also missed two games with a hamstring injury last season.

In all, Murray has missed nine starts over the previous two seasons. The question for Bidwell is who will be under center for the Cardinals at the start of the 2023 season.

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Cardinals options at QB in place of Kyler Murray

Colt McCoy started six games for the Cardinals in place of Murray, but the former Texas Longhorns quarterback is also dealing with an undisclosed injury. If McCoy isn't ready in time for the start of the season, they might have to re-sign David Blough or Trace McSorley. Both Blough and McSorley started games for the Cardinals last season.

However, neither is under contract with the franchise as Blough is a restricted free agent and McSorley is set to become a free agent in March. Given the contract that Kyler Murray has, Arizona cannot sign or trade for a quarterback like Derek Carr or Jimmy Garoppolo.

We'll see what the Cardinals do this offseason as new head coach Jonathan Gannon will have to find a healthy starter in Murray's place.