Cardinals' Kyler Murray has no timetable on his return to playing football
The biggest question surrounding the Arizona Cardinals is, since Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker is with the team and taking part in training camp practices after requesting a trade in the offseason, when quarterback Kyler Murray will be ready for a return from a torn ACL from a game last December.
Murray himself provided no clarity on that in his first public comments of training camp and first session with media since his injury, saying he is taking his rehab "one day at a time" and doesn't have a timetable.
Murray said in a video series produced by the Cardinals earlier this month that his goal is to play in Week 1 of the regular season, but with a month and a half to go until that game at Washington, he is watching camp practices from the sideline just as a he did during offseason team workouts earlier this offseason at the Cardinals facility.
"Every athlete that's dealt with injury like this, it's just kind of one of those things where when the athlete knows, they know," Murray said. "Obviously me being the competitor I am, do I want to miss any time? No, that's not on my mind. But we're not even in August yet. So, you know, like I said, I'm taking it one day at a time."
Murray said it's unusual to have to watch everything and not take part in practice, but that isn't a bad thing. He said he's gained more resiliency and believes everything happens for a reason.
"Trying to make the most out of this and make it a positive deal. I feel good, getting better each and every day," Murray said. "So just trying to be there for my teammates right now and just learn as much as possible before I do stuff on the field."
He said his typical day is rehab, physical therapy and eating all three meals. But Murray was able to do some things that were special to him, such as attending the unveiling of a statue of himself at Oklahoma, where he played in college, and taking needy kids and families on a shopping spree at a local Dick's Sporting Goods.
"That was a great deal," Murray said. "Just have fun with them, allow them to pick up some stuff and just honestly give back to those kids."
Murray said he hasn't felt challenged by what is perceived as the monotony of the same daily rehab routine. He was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list at the start of camp.
"I get to do what I love every day, play quarterback in NFL. Did I get hurt? Yeah. Did I experience something that no one wants to experience? Yeah," Murray said. "But it's nothing for me to get up and work out every day. I was already doing that before I got hurt. So the fact that, oh, now I'm rehabbing a knee, cool for me to get back to who I was and be able to play at a higher level."
Player updates
Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said quarterback Colt McCoy wasn't throwing passes in practice Friday as part of his undisclosed "protocol," or what could be the plan for his progression over the course of camp. Tight end Trey McBride didn't take part in team drills Friday.
"You look at not day by day, but you look at the bulk of training camp and kind of what needs to be done. And we feel comfortable about the plan that we've got going," Gannon said regarding McCoy, who did throw to receivers on Saturday.
Gannon said McBride has a minor injury but has been on the field. First-year Cardinals tight end Noah Togiai had a big day Saturday with some impressive catches.
"Being careful with him. He's got his own plan that he's going through right now," Gannon said of McBride.
Outside linebacker Myjai Sanders has a hand injury, Gannon said. Sanders missed a second day of practice.
Two players sent off after tussle
Gannon backed up his comments about players fighting in practice, sending offensive lineman Dennis Daley and defensive lineman L.J. Collier to the locker room with about 25 minutes left in Saturday's practice after the two get into it on the field.
"It's a non-negotiable, and why it's a non negotiable, because you get thrown out of a game for it," Gannon said on the first day of camp.
'Back Together Weekend'
The Cardinals took part in their third "Back Together Weekend" celebration, the NFL's label to mark the return of football and the start of training camps around the league.
The largest crowd for an open practice thus far in training camp turned out to hear a few words from Gannon, watch the ream run through typical camp drills and cheer for former players who were introduced on the field.
"It's appreciated and I'm glad the fans are here today," Gannon said minutes before practice started. "But now it's go about your day and do the best job you can."
Cardinals sign linebacker
The Cardinals made a roster move Saturday, signing linebacker David Anenih and releasing cornerback Dylan Mabin.
The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Anenih was on the active rosters of the Steelers and Falcons last season after entering the league with Tennessee as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2022 out of the University of Houston. He spent time on the practice squads of the Titans and Steelers as a rookie.
In college Anenih had 99 total tackles (57 solo), 32 tackles for loss, 20 sacks, seven pass breakups and four forced fumbles in 56 games.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Is Cardinals' Kyler Murray on track to play in Week 1 of NFL season?
