The Arizona Cardinals will open the 2025 campaign against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, and they will be looking to get off on the right foot after failing to meet expectations in 2024. Considering how the Saints are widely believed to be the worst team in the league, the Cardinals have a great opportunity to start the new season off with a win.
As always, the guy who will play the biggest role in Arizona’s success is star quarterback Kyler Murray. However, ahead of Week 1, Murray was dealt a concerning update for the team’s upcoming game against that quickly caught fans’ attention, as it could end up playing a role in how the Cardinals’ season-opener unfolds.
Kyler Murray Dealing with an Illness in Week 1
Arizona selected Murray with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, and he’s turned himself into one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the league. Murray won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019, before rattling off a pair of Pro Bowl campaigns in 2020 and 2021. However, since then, he’s struggled to stay healthy and produce at a high level.
In 2024, Murray logged his first full season since 2020, but his production left a lot to be desired. In 17 games, Murray threw for 3,851 yards and 21 touchdowns, while also rushing for 572 yards and another five scores. The Cardinals’ offense struggled to find consistency, though, and that led to them winning only eight games when all was said and done.
With a full offseason under his belt and familiarity with the team’s offensive scheme, there’s reason to believe Murray can get back on track in 2025. Hours before kickoff on Sunday, though, Murray was added to Arizona’s injury report with an illness, and while that is a reasonable cause for concern, he is still expected to take the field for his team.
“QB Kyler Murray has been added to the Arizona Cardinals injury report with an illness. But he does not have a status so is expected to start against the Saints,” Darren Urban of the team’s official website shared in a post on X.
Should Cardinals be Concerned About Kyler Murray’s Illness?
GettyArizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
Murray’s sudden appearance on the Cardinals’ injury report is obviously a bit worrisome, but all signs point to him still playing against the Saints. Considering how he isn’t even listed as questionable for this game, that means barring something catastrophic, Murray will be on the field leading Arizona’s offense just as the team expected.
With playmakers like Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride, and James Conner working around him, Murray has all the pieces he needs on offense to find success. On the other side of the ball, the Saints have their own quarterback concerns, as Spencer Rattler will draw the start in Week 1 after winning the team’s uninspiring battle for the position over the summer.
It will be worth double-checking Murray’s status when inactives are announced, but it would be a major surprise at this point if he does not end up playing on Sunday. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, with inactives coming out at 11:30 a.m. ET.
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