Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is eligible to be designated to return from the PUP (physically unable to perform) reserve beginning next week. That will not happen, per a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Per Schefter, Murray is still “weeks away from playing.”
Murray tore his ACL and meniscus last December and didn’t have surgery until January.
The Cardinals have been careful not to make known any sort of firm timeline for his return. Murray recently made a social media post indicating he would be back “soon.”
Head coach Jonathan Gannon has been firm in saying that Murray would return “when he is physically and mentally ready.”
They know what the timeline for his potential return is, at least per league rules, but they have their own timeline, said Gannon this week.
Contrary to the belief of many, the Cardinals do not have plans of holding him out longer than needed. General manager Monti Ossenfort said they “would not hesitate” to activate Murray when he is ready to practice.
How long are we looking at?
All we know is he is not expected to be activated in Week 5 and that he is multiple weeks away.
He could return as early as Week 6. Somewhere between Weeks 6 and 8 is a reasonable guess for a comeback.
He will not be back to play the Cincinnati Bengals at home in Week 5.
After that, the Cardinals are on the road facing the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks in Weeks 6 and 7. They return home in Week 8 to take on the Baltimore Ravens.
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