There was some surprise on Wednesday morning when ESPN’s Adam Schefter Tweeted that Kyler Murray was back at the Cardinals’ practice facility and ready to take the field for OTAs.
The fourth-year quarterback has been marred in a protracted contract dispute with the team for months, and many expected Murray to stay away at least until mandatory minicamp, when fines could be imposed.
Cardinals’ OTAs resume today and QB Kyler Murray is back in their training facility and expected to be on the practice field for the first time during their off-season program, per league source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 1, 2022
However, after the season, Murray, many of the team’s starting offensive linemen and other veterans hatched a plan to work out on their own for some of the offseason before convening back at the Cardinals’ headquarters following Memorial Day weekend.
Even though contract negotiations have yet to progress, Murray thought it was important to keep his word to those teammates and show up for the voluntary OTA sessions, a source told Compare.bet.
Kyler Murray and several other teammates always planned to report to OTAs at the start of June. Even without a contract extension, the Cardinals QB has stayed true to his word.
— Kyle Odegard (@Kyle_Odegard) June 1, 2022
Right tackle Kelvin Beachum, left tackle D.J. Humphries, left guard Justin Pugh and wide receiver Hollywood Brown were among some of the other veterans who practiced on Wednesday after working out on their own previously.
While many connected the dots between Murray’s absence at the start of OTAs and his contract situation, he was simply following a plan that was hashed out long ago.
From what I understand, multiple Cardinals veterans won't be at OTAs this week, which was always the agreement. It's not just a Kyler Murray thing.
— Kyle Odegard (@Kyle_Odegard) May 23, 2022
Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim told Pat McAfee last week that he feels like the team and Murray can get a contract extension done this summer. The Cardinals have long stuck firm to that timetable, declining to counter the proposal Murray’s agent, Erik Burkhardt, sent over before free agency.
There are still major contractual hurdles to clear, but on Wednesday, Murray put that aside to stay true to his word and arrive for offseason work alongside a bevy of his veteran teammates.
