The Cardinals begin their preseason slate on Friday against the Broncos.
The regular season opener will be on Sept. 10 against the Commanders.
Somewhere in between, a critical decision must be made: Will Kyler Murray begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list?
The fifth-year quarterback is on it now as he continues to recuperate from a torn ACL, but this is the training camp version, which he can be lifted from at any point.
However, if Murray is placed on the reserve/PUP list at the outset of the season, it will mean he cannot play or practice for the first four weeks. That would keep him out against the Commanders, Giants, Cowboys and 49ers, with the earliest possible return on Oct. 8 against the Bengals.
“I know he wants to be out here as soon as he physically possibly can — which I think it will be sooner than later.”
Arizona Cardinals QB Colt McCoy tells @AZSports about Kyler Murray.pic.twitter.com/Hb5uCzPIWs
— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) August 10, 2023
The Cardinals will save a roster spot if Murray remains on PUP, but given his value to the team, it only makes sense if the organization is 100% sure he won’t be ready to go before Week 5.
I’ve been told the PUP conversation has not yet been had.
However, based on past precedent, it could be coming in the next couple of weeks.
Ex-Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu was activated from the PUP list on August 16, 2016 after early January surgery for his ACL.
Mathieu ramped up slowly at first and proved to be ready for the regular season opener, playing 100% of the defensive snaps on Sept. 11 against the Patriots.
If the Cardinals plan to activate Murray, they will want to start easing him into practice at half-speed, especially considering there is a new system to learn.
He wouldn’t be running, cutting or doing much in live action early on, but Murray would still benefit from being on the field as opposed to watching from the sideline.
But if the Cardinals activate Murray off the active/PUP list he’s currently on, they cannot return him to that list for the regular season, so they would need to be confident in his trajectory.
Murray posted an Instagram message on his 26th birthday that read in part: “25… Hit me with some adversity. Some good, some bad. Gained some real ones, lost some fake. F— ‘em we ball! Bounce back.”
Kyler Murray sends a very clear message on his 26th birthday.
“Bounce back.”
📸: K1 Insta pic.twitter.com/HUsfxArTOM
— Johnny Venerable (@JohnnyVenerable) August 8, 2023
It’s an attitude those close to him have seen in spades. Murray wants to get back on the field and return to the form that made him one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the NFL.
If it was solely his decision, Murray would be activated off the PUP list, allowing him the chance to start within the first four games.
But there is plenty of reason for the Cardinals to be cautious, as the worst-case scenario would be a setback to the knee or a compensation injury.
Even though the season is still a month away, a PUP activation — or lack thereof — in the next few weeks could signal the Cardinals’ intentions for Murray.
