Kyler Murray Gears Up for a Fresh Start in 2023 with the Arizona Cardinals
As Kyler Murray steps into his sixth season with the Arizona Cardinals, the star quarterback is ready to leave behind a turbulent 2022 and start anew. Turning the page from what was a challenging year, Murray is looking forward to what lies ahead for him and his team.
The Cardinals had an impressive 11-5 record in the 2021 season, starting with a blazing 7-0 streak, and made it to the NFC Wild-Card round. However, fortunes shifted as Murray missed the first nine games of the 2023 season due to rehabilitation for his right ACL. The daunting recovery task also caused him to miss last year’s training camp, making this his first full participation in a camp since 2022.
Reflecting on his lengthy rehabilitation period, Murray candidly shared, "Last year was just such a whirlwind for me as far as being hurt and then rehabbing the whole year, coming back in the middle of the season, which I've never done before. And then again, as far as the play goes, having to get better each and every week again, and then feel like getting in the groove of things, and it kind of not really mean anything, but for me it meant something internally, but I think this year just getting to start off fresh, it is a big difference."
The Cardinals have been proactive in augmenting their roster, adding rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and veteran receiver Zay Jones. These new additions join the lineup featuring Trey McBride, James Conner, Michael Wilson, and Greg Dortch, aiming for a dynamic offensive strategy.
Murray’s commitment to fostering team chemistry was evident when he organized a weeklong trip to Los Angeles with 12 of his teammates. "Getting all those reps that we got, we may not have gotten if we didn't do those things off the field because there's the sense of urgency there," Murray explained. "We want to hit the ground running. We are not coming out this season, despite what everybody thinks or what they're saying, we know we want to do in this locker room, so, in order to do that, you got to put the work in."
With a determined mindset, Murray is acutely aware of the fleeting nature of an NFL career. "You never know when the game's going to be taken away from you. You'll never know how long you're going to be playing. So, my goal is to be the best, and since I was 4 years old my dream was to be a quarterback in the NFL, win Super Bowls, and that's what I strive to do every single day," he emphasized.
Murray’s optimism for the upcoming season is palpable. "I don't put any limitation on what this offense can be or do. I think we're very versatile, got great skill set as far as receivers or running backs, again, me coming back healthy, I don't feel like I even scratched the surface of what I'm capable of as far as moving around being a dual threat on the field at the back end of the season. So, like I said, I don't put any limitation on what we can do."
The Cardinals, with Murray at the helm, are poised to prove their potential on the field. As they embark on this new chapter, there's a shared sense of purpose and a hunger to defy external expectations. The combination of fresh talent and seasoned leadership sets them up as a team to watch in the coming season.