Cardinals QB Kyler Murray suggests he could revert to previous playing style in 2025

This past winter, Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon indicated that quarterback Kyler Murray could use his legs to make plays more during the 2025 season after Murray ended the 2024 campaign with a career-low 4.59 rushing attempts per game, per the StatMuse website.

During an appearance on the latest episode of the "PHNX Arizona Cardinals Podcast," Murray addressed that very topic. 

"Honestly, they say, Year 2 (post-knee injury) is the best year, and honestly, how I feel right now is as if it never happened," Murray explained, as shared by Kevin Patra of the NFL's website. "Talking to [offensive coordinator Drew Petzing] and [quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork], feeling like going into this year, I'll be able to do whatever I want to do."

Murray was referencing how he required ACL surgery that included some meniscus repair following the injury he suffered in December 2022. He returned to regular-season action the subsequent November but acknowledged during the podcast that he tweaked his knee in Week 1 of the 2024 campaign. 

The Cardinals ultimately ended the 2024 season at 8-9, and Murray finished Week 18 ranked fourth among quarterbacks with 572 total rushing yards. According to Pro Football Reference, he was also ninth among eligible players with a 66.5 adjusted QBR and fifth with a 51.7 percent passing success rate. Perhaps most importantly, as it pertains to the 2025 Cardinals, Murray made 17 starts this past season. 

"I do feel like I have to run more next year," Murray added during his comments. "I'm open to running more next year, just because it's such a weapon, you know, it's such a weapon. ...When [Baltimore Ravens starter Lamar Jackson] hands the ball off, everybody is like 'Ahh,' like you can relax. [Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen] hands the ball off, 'Ahh,' you know what I mean? So I think for us, part of the emphasis going into next season is conceptually, on time, I feel I'm one of the best in the league."

Rumors about the Cardinals possibly moving on from Murray have popped up each offseason since he went down with his knee injury. He's likely not going anywhere anytime soon, but one wonders how much longer Gannon and Co. will wait for the 27-year-old to become "one of the best in the league" before they consider going in a different direction.