How long is Kyler Murray out? Injury timeline, return date, latest updates on Cardinals QB

Joe Rivera

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How long is Kyler Murray out? Injury timeline, return date, latest updates on Cardinals QB image

See you in 2023, Kyler.

The Cardinals were dealt a brutal blow on Monday night, when Kyler Murray went down with a non-contact injury on the third play of the game against the Patriots. While there was some question at the time over whether or not Murray would re-enter the game, it's clear now that he wasn't going to — and you won't see him anytime soon. 

MRIs confirmed the worst-case scenario for Murray's left knee on Tuesday, with the Cardinals passer suffering a torn ACL on that non-contact play. The injury will keep him out the remainder of the 2022 season, and likely a sizable chunk of the 2023 season, as well.

MORE: NFL world reacts to Kyler Murray's brutal knee injury

With Murray sidelined, the Cardinals will turn to Colt McCoy to guide them through the remainder of the 2022 season, which is already something of a lost cause for the Cardinals. Now sitting at 4-9, the playoffs are another loss or two out of reach for Arizona.

Now, it's going to be a brutally long offseason while they wait for their quarterback to recover. Here's how long the Cardinals and their fans will be without the passer:

How long is Kyler Murray out?

Murray's return timeline is murky, but one thing is certain: He'll be out the remainder of the 2022 season.

Given that ACL injuries can take 8-to-10 months to recover from, there's a chance that Murray will start the 2023 season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. That could keep him out a number of games while he recovers.

Should Murray start the 2023 season on the PUP list, then he must miss, at minimum, the first four games of the regular season, therefore giving him a window to return sometime in October or later.

What is Kyler Murray's injury?

Murray suffered a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. 

Of the ligaments in the knee, the ACL is most commonly torn among NFL players. Players also suffer MCL and PCL injuries, but most commonly tear the ACL on non-contact plays.

The injury typically sidelines players for around 10 months, with eight months the shorter, quicker end of the spectrum. Murray likely will miss time at the beginning of the 2023 season while recovering. Players can miss closer to a year with the injury, as well.

Kyler Murray injury timeline

— On the third play of the Week 14 "Monday Night Football" matchup between the Cardinals and Patriots, Murray scrambled to his right and went to the turf on a non-contact injury. He would be carted to the locker room following the injury.

— Initially, the Cardinals would list Murray as questionable to return as they ran more tests. He would later be listed as out. 

— During the game, Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury told ESPN's Lisa Salters that the injury didn't look good, and that the team would know more following the game.

— NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the Cardinals were expected a "serious" knee injury to Murray, with tests on Tuesday that would confirm initial fears of an ACL tear.

Kyler Murray injury updates

Dec. 13: Murray's injury is confirmed as an ACL tear, ending his 2022 season and putting the start of the 2023 campaign in doubt. 

Joe Rivera

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Joe Rivera is in his seventh year with The Sporting News, handling NFL, MLB and some things pro wrestling. A proud-ish Rutgers University graduate, Rivera combines a new-school flair with an old-school soul. He loves dingers, wrestling, comic books, movies, music and really bad puns. He is also a card-carrying BBWAA member and teaches Multimedia Sports Reporting at his alma mater.

You can find him and tweet him @JoeRiveraSN, if you're into that sort of thing.