PHX Reporter

Kyler Murray never struggled much before he got to the NFL, and he never suffered a serious injury either.

His rookie year, "I was (expletive) miserable after losses," the Cardinals quarterback said. After watching hours of old video of himself, he saw some great plays but many where he wondered why he was doing what he was doing.

Yet Murray enters his sixth NFL season – beginning Sunday in Buffalo – a better player and person for enduring such things. He is happy and confident. The Cardinals are still climbing their way to contention under coach Jonathan Gannon, but their QB is where he needs to be after seeing where he has been.

"There is only one winner at the end of the year -- we're all chasing that," Murray said. "You've got to fail. All those are lessons that I have taken in. That one playoff game (in 2021) that I have taken in, I know the next time I get to the playoffs I know what not to do and how I felt. It's a blessing to be in this position."

The Cardinals have been around since 1920 in the NFL, yet only three quarterbacks have lasted as starters as long as Murray's six seasons. Jim Hart had 15 as the starter in the 1960s and 1970s. Neil Lomax had seven in the span of the 1980s. Jake Plummer lasted exactly six seasons before leaving as a free agent.

Murray surpassed both Kurt Warner and Carson Palmer in franchise starts long ago.

"I would love to end my career here with multiple Super Bowls, MVPs, and all the accolades," Murray said. "I have never questioned my abilities or anything like that. You never know when this game might be taken away from you, but I am taking it one day at a time."

Murray, as usual, is key.

He fits well into Drew Petzing's offense and acknowledged he feels he can be himself in such a system. That showed in the final month of last season when James Conner dominated on the ground and Murray looked sharp – without talented rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

The unit has looked how Murray wanted in training camp, and coach Jonathan Gannon has been pleased with his QB – as noted multiple times. Still, "Sundays is where you get measured," Gannon said.

In some ways it feels like a new start for Murray, except it isn't. He did have eight games under Petzing's system last season after his ACL healed by then. For Murray, this has been one continuous thought since returning from his injury.

"Football has been on my mind this whole offseason," Murray said. "It always is but last year, being hurt and having to rehab and stuff like that, (I tried) not to get too far away from the game mentally."

"I have had this on my mind for a long time: what I want to accomplish; what I want this team to accomplish; so it doesn't feel brand new."

Any player in his second season back from an ACL will be healthier; Murray acknowledged being there now. Otherwise, Petzing said he's "been the same player, same person, same teammate" as before.

"He does a great job of turning off from being in the locker room to going on the field and being very serious—the quarterback and leader we need him to be," Harrison said. "I admire that with him."

There are no struggles ahead of him now; that's why Murray said he's happy.

"You're free," Murray said. "I love what I do."