We know that Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray’s return from his torn ACL is uncertain. He is expected to miss at least some games to start the season.
Some have suggested that he could miss as much as half the season and some even believe the Cardinals might shut him down completely if the season is going badly enough.
Here’s why that won’t happen.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon has said Murray will come back when “he is physically and mentally ready” to play. Gannon said he will ultimately decide Murray’s return.
Many have wondered about Murray’s relationship with the franchise, but this offseason has been all good news.
Murray has been hitting his rehab hard, impressing teammates and coaches. He is pushing for the quickest return possible.
He and the new coaching staff have a great relationship.
Gannon’s “everything is a competition” philosophy fits Murray’s character.
Former Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins has never seen anyone as competitive as Murray.
This is why the notion that sitting a healthy Murray is pretty absurd.
If Gannon’s goal is to win ballgames and to create real competition, he can’t hold back a healthy Murray.
Once he is medically cleared and is mentally ready to play again, no matter how bad the season is going, they have to let him play.
Why?
To hold him back would be going against Gannon’s philosophy.
Murray is thriving in this new environment. He is doing everything he can to return as quickly as possible. He is going to push the issue.
As a competitor, he will want to play. To unnecessarily hold him back to “tank” the season would undo all that goodwill that has been built between the coaching staff, the organization and Murray.
If he is ready to play, he will insist on playing.
If he is not completely ready, that is a different story. They won’t play him until he is healthy.
But if he has gotten right in the first month of the season, the coaching staff can’t feasibly tell him that he has to wait.
If Murray is healthy, to keep him happy and believing in the organization’s direction, he has to play.
Any other decision by the coaches would be disingenuous.
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