Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray could be back earlier than expected from a torn ACL in his right knee.

Arizona is planning to address the position due to Murray’s injury and backup Colt McCoy’s unspecified injury, which team owner Michael Bidwill said will limit the 36-year-old in the offseason.

But Bidwill expects Murray, who was injured Dec. 12, to beat projections that he could return in late September or October from knee surgery.

“I think (his return) is going to be earlier than this midseason, so hopefully, it’s toward the beginning of the season, but I don’t want to put any specific dates,” Bidwill said. “There could be setbacks, the progress could slow. But he’s a young man, it looks like he is a fast healer, things are going well. Let’s hope that keeps going the way it is.”

Murray, 25, signed a $230.5 million deal before the 2022 season. But Arizona went 4-13 and the Cardinals made massive changes, firing coach Kliff Kingsbury and parting with general manager Steve Keim.

The brain trust — other than Bidwill — that drafted Murray and committed to him with an average annual salary over $46 million is gone, and the Cardinals are reportedly shopping lead wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Last week, Murray shared videos of his physical progress via Instagram, and new head coach Jonathan Gannon downplayed the challenge of installing a new system without his starting quarterback available for on-field workouts.

Gannon left no question about the role Murray’s presence had in him taking the job in an interview with NBC Sports.

“If Kyler Murray isn’t here, I don’t take this job,” Gannon said.

–Field Level Media