Cardinals designate QB Kyler Murray for return from PUP list

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is close to a return, as he’ll begin practicing Wednesday after he tore his ACL last season.

Murray was on the PUP list all this year following his injury in 2022. Josh Dobbs was the starting quarterback for the Cardinals so far this season.

But, this could mean the former No. 1 overall pick is back in action sooner rather than later.

“Kyler Murray will begin practicing today,” ESPN’s Field Yates tweeted. “The Cardinals have 21 days to activate him from the PUP list to the 53-man roster.”

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon added Murray would be “full go” at practice, indicating his health is solid.

Currently, the Cardinals are 1-5 through six games, last place in the NFC West.

It was a struggle for Murray and the Cardinals last year, going 3-8 as a starter before his injury. He finished with 2,368 yards, 14 touchdowns, seven interceptions, a 66.4% completion percentage, 418 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.

Over the course of his NFL career, Murray has 13,848 yards, 84 touchdowns, 41 interceptions, a 66.8% completion percentage, 2,204 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns.

The Cardinals selected Murray with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma.

The former Heisman Trophy winner finished his college career with 5,406 yards, 50 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, a 67.4% completion percentage, 1,478 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns.

As a member of the Class of 2015, Murray was a four-star recruit out of Allen (Texas), according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 5 overall prospect in the state, the No. 3 quarterback in the class and the No. 36 overall prospect in the class.

Former general manager Steve Keim admitted in April that there is still growing that needs to be done by Murray.

“He still needs to grow,” Keim said on the Green Light with Chris Long. “(Beachum’s comments are) not slanted toward (Murray’s) character. He’s not a bad guy. He’s a good kid, has a good smile, has a nice way about him. I think it’s like anything: Guys have to continue to learn what it’s going to take to be great. Does he know what Tom Brady and Peyton Manning know of what it takes to be great? No.

“Does he work? He does work. I think it’s just that side of the game — the film study, the attention to detail part that he can continue to improve upon, and I think he will. Kyler’s a proud guy, man. He doesn’t want to lose and he doesn’t want to let people down.”