Murray’s torn ACL caps Cardinals’ rough season
Kyler Murray’s fourth NFL season has been a lengthy exercise in frustration and futility.
He now has to deal with the most serious injury of his pro career.
The Arizona quarterback will miss the rest of the year because of a torn ACL suffered on the third play of Monday night’s 2713 loss to the Patriots. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury confirmed Murray’s injury Tuesday.
“A difficult year, obviously, from the beginning,” Kingsbury said.
Murray was flushed out of the pocket and running to his right when he tried to juke past a New England defender, but tumbled in pain. Players from both teams surrounded the quarterback before he was carted off the field with a towel draped over his head.
Kingsbury said he spoke to Murray after the injury. The coach added that Joe Burrow’s recent recovery from an ACL injury — the Cincinnati QB tore his ACL in 2020 before leading the Bengals to the Super Bowl in the 2021 season — gives hope for a quick turnaround.
It’s unclear whether Murray will be ready for the next training camp.
“I just wanted to make sure he knew how much we appreciated him and we’ll get through this thing,” Kingsbury said. “He’s never been through this type of serious injury, so it’ll be a new challenge for him.”
Murray was replaced by backup Colt McCoy, who likely will remain the starter for the rest of the season. The Cardinals (4-9) have lost five of six.
Arizona’s recent hopes as a franchise have revolved around the development of Murray, who was taken with the No. 1 overall pick out of Oklahoma in 2019. The two-time Pro Bowl selection signed a $230.5 million contract in the offseason that could keep him with the franchise until 2028.
It’s fair to wonder whether he’ll be the same dual-threat quarterback when he returns. He has run for 23 touchdowns in his four seasons and his ability to scramble has been central to his success. Snakebit Browns: Cleveland linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah will miss the season’s final four games after sustaining a left foot injury late in Sunday’s loss in Cincinnati.
Owusu-Koramoah is the fourth Cleveland linebacker lost for the season because of injury, joining middle linebackers Anthony Walker Jr., Jacob Phillips and Sione Takitaki. Briefly: Rams receiver Cooper Kupp is likely to miss the rest of the season with his sprained right ankle, head coach Sean McVay said . ... Receiver Cole Beasley ended a brief retirement to reunite with Josh Allen and the Bills . ... Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett’s status for Sunday’s visit to Carolina is uncertain after entering the concussion protocol for the second time in two months.