The Arizona Cardinals open their 2025 season this Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, a matchup where the Cardinals are considered favorites against a Saints team that had a quiet offseason and will start Spencer Rattler at quarterback.
However, what looked like a favorable game on paper just became more complicated. A surprise report about quarterback Kyler Murray’s health emerged Sunday morning, adding a layer of mystery and pressure to the Cardinals’ season debut.
Why Was Kyler Murray Suddenly Added to the Injury Report?
Arizona’s success has been heavily dependent on Kyler Murray. After he missed the end of the 2022 season and the start of 2023 with injuries, things seemed to turn around in 2024. Murray stayed healthy all year and led the team to a strong start, even topping the division early in the season.
Despite the hot start, a drop-off in performance from midseason to the end crushed any playoff hopes, leaving the franchise in third place in the division. Now, with a stronger roster, the pressure on the Cardinals, and especially on Murray, has increased, with immediate results expected.
Murray, who had a smooth offseason, was unexpectedly added to the injury report ahead of this Sunday’s opener against the Saints with an illness. According to insider Adam Schefter, his game status will not be affected, and he is expected to take the field with the starters despite the unspecified discomfort.
Cardinals are adding QB Kyler Murray to the injury report this morning due to an illness, but he’ll have no game-status designation and he will start vs. the Saints. pic.twitter.com/fCbnQt0i6R
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 7, 2025
The real question is how much this will impact his performance. Murray’s biggest strength is his dual-threat ability, which makes him explosive when escaping the pocket and difficult to sack on the move. An illness could affect his energy and limit his comfort zone on the field, but fantasy owners should not worry about his availability.
QB1 clocking in 📍 pic.twitter.com/AJ8bpzhxHl
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 7, 2025
The level of discomfort, however, remains uncertain. The team could simply be taking precautionary measures in response to minor symptoms rather than something that would truly affect his play. Still, it’s something to keep an eye on if Murray doesn’t look like his usual self during the game.
What Does This Mean for Murray and the Cardinals in 2025?
He finished the 2024 season with 21 passing touchdowns, five rushing scores, 3,851 passing yards, 572 rushing yards, and 11 interceptions. At one point midseason, it seemed like fans were watching the best version of Murray since the Cardinals’ hot start in 2021, when they flirted with the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
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Unfortunately, a decline beginning with the first matchup against the Seattle Seahawks triggered a string of losses that ended the team’s playoff chances. That collapse added even more pressure on Murray heading into the 2025 campaign.
As a former No. 1 overall pick with a renewed contract, this is the year for him to prove he is the unquestioned franchise cornerstone the Cardinals need him to be.
