Cardinals' Kyler Murray Feels 'Like I Have to Run More' in 2025 NFL Season

Now that he's two years removed from a torn ACL, Arizona Cardinals star quarterback Kyler Murray hopes to bring back a facet of his game that he felt was under-utilized in 2024.

Murray told PHNX Sports that he feels he needs to make the most of his dual-threat abilities for the Cardinals to be successful during the upcoming season.

"I do feel like I have to run more next year," Murray said. "I'm open to running more next year, just because it's such a weapon, you know, it's such a weapon."

In addition to throwing for 3,851 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, Murray added 78 carries for 572 rushing yards and five more scores. His average of 7.3 yards per carry was his career-high, but his 4.6 carries per game marked a career-low.

Murray went on to explain that he feels he can have a similar impact to MVP quarterbacks Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills.

"Like when I hand the ball off obviously I hand the ball off to James (Conner), I hand off to Trey (Benson), we're a very good rushing team, which is a great thing," he said. "But when Lamar (Jackson) hands the ball off everybody is like 'Ahh,' like you can relax, 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."

The Cardinals ranked seventh in the NFL with 144.2 rushing yards per game last season, and Conner placed 11th in the league with 1,094 yards while also adding eight touchdowns. However, it wasn't enough for a winning season, as the Cardinals finished 8-9 and fell short of the playoffs for the third straight year.

Murray is confident that his continued recovery from the torn ACL that cut his 2023 season short after just eight games will benefit Arizona in a big way in 2025.

"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," he said. "Talking to (offensive coordinator) Drew (Petzing) and Izzy (QBs coach Israel Woolfork), feeling like going into this year I'll be able to do whatever I want to do."