GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona Cardinals second-year wide receiver Michael Wilson said training camp is going much better than his rookie year, he’s familiar with the playbook and has a good rapport with coach Jonathan Gannon.
But the biggest reason he feels more at ease is the presence of quarterback Kyler Murray.
“If everything isn’t perfect, Kyler makes it right,” Wilson said.
Murray, entering his sixth season in the NFL, returns to what he and the Cardinals hope will be a season full of highlights and victories. The two-time Pro Bowl selection returns after a hiatus of about a year and a half. From a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee They will face the Patriots in 2022.
The injury sidelined him for about 11 months before he returned midway through last season. The Cardinals went 1-8 without Murray but improved to 3-5 with him, raising hopes they’ll be more competitive this fall.
“Last year was a hectic year for me, getting injured, rehabbing all year and coming back mid-season,” Murray said. “I’m starting fresh this year and I think it’s going to be a big difference.”
Murray was healthy this offseason and organized several team-building trips, including to Oklahoma and Los Angeles. A few weeks ago I posted some photos from my trip to California.Twelve teammates participated in the game, including running back James Conner, rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and tight end Trey McBride.
“Off-the-field friendships are underrated,” Murray said. “You love each other, you’re together, you spend time together, you get to know each other. The best teams I’ve been on have had good relationships off the field. You work hard for each other.”
Wilson said Murray paid for the trip to the upscale Bel Air neighborhood and included chef and car services.
“Boys could just be boys and hang out and exercise together,” Wilson says. “When a bunch of competitive guys got together, they competed from the time they woke up until the time they went to bed. They played ping pong, cards, saw who could run the fastest, who could catch the most balls, and even jiggled until late at night.”
The trip was another example of how hungry Murray is for NFL success after going 28-36 over his first four seasons as a starter. The Cardinals’ best season during his tenure came in 2021, when they finished the regular season 11-6 but struggled late and were eliminated in the wild-card round.
Since then, the Cardinals have had a string of 4-13 seasons and have missed the playoffs in seven of the past eight years.
“I’m not used to losing,” Murray said. “It sounds cliché, but it’s been five years, almost six, and I haven’t won yet. There’s definitely a sense of urgency. You never know when the match is going to be taken away from you, you never know how long you’re going to be able to play.”
“My goal is to be the best.”
The Cardinals worked aggressively to improve their offense during the offseason. They acquired Harrison with the fourth overall pick in April’s draft.was widely considered the best non-quarterback prospect in the draft, and the Ohio State star has caught 28 touchdown passes over the past two seasons and is expected to be one of Murray’s top prospects right away.
“He’s obviously a great player and he loves the game,” Murray said. “The time we’ve spent together off the field in the offseason since he got drafted has been very positive, and I think that’s going to translate on the field.”
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