Cardinals OK with financial risk of Kyler’s return

Adam Schefter, ESPN Senior WriterOct 22, 2023, 06:12 AM ET
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- Former president of the Pro Football Writers of America and the author of four books

The Arizona Cardinals want Kyler Murray to play again this season — so badly, in fact, that they are willing to take the financial risk that comes along with the quarterback’s return.

Murray, who returned to practice last week for the first time since suffering a torn ACL in December, has $29.9 million in 2025 salary compensation that becomes fully guaranteed in March if he can’t pass a physical by then.

The only way to ensure that Murray would be healthy by March would be to not play him, which the Cardinals don’t want to do.

Murray would face some of the NFL’s stoutest defenses upon his return, as the Cardinals’ remaining schedule includes games against the Browns, Ravens, 49ers, Steelers, Rams and Eagles — all teams with talented defensive lines.

Murray will not play Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, and the Cardinals have not circled a specific date for his return. Arizona has until Nov. 8 to activate Murray to the 53-man roster, meaning the Cardinals’ Week 10 home game against the Atlanta Falcons would be the latest he could return this season.

Murray, 26, signed a five-year extension in July 2022 that keeps him under contract through the 2028 season and includes $160 million guaranteed for injury.

Sometimes injury guarantees in a player’s contract are enough to force the team to bench him. Last season, for example, the Las Vegas Raiders decided to bench quarterback Derek Carr rather than expose themselves to any financial risk in his contract.

Carr had signed a three-year, $121.5 million contract extension the previous spring, but his $32.9 million salary for 2023 and $7.5 million of his 2024 salary would have become fully guaranteed if he suffered an injury. Rather than put $40.4 million of guaranteed money at risk, the Raiders sent Carr home and essentially cut short his time with the franchise.

The Cardinals announced Wednesday that Murray had been designated to return from the physically unable to perform list, opening his 21-day window to be activated to the 53-man roster. The No. 1 pick from 2019 took some first-team reps and started working in the huddle.

“It’s exciting for me,” Cardinals left tackle D.J. Humphries said. “Just seeing him running around … I know he’s trending in the right direction. When I saw him come in the huddle, I had to like chill because he was trying to be calm and I was excited.”

Murray’s return will be an “organizational decision,” according to Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon, who added that the quarterback will be a “big part” of those discussions.

Joshua Dobbs will start at quarterback again Sunday when the Cardinals (1-5) visit the Seahawks (3-2). Dobbs has been the starter for all six games this season, completing 62.8% of his passes for 1,215 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions.