Dak Prescott, returning from his injury. Cooper Rush, signed with the Baltimore Ravens. Trey Lance, hasn’t re-signed yet. The QB depth in Dallas is a glaring issue at the moment but as ESPN’s Marissa Myers mentioned, “That is where Kyler Murray comes into play, and his role could see him replace Dak Prescott.” A wild trade idea and a wilder swap indeed, but maybe a new QB for a new era in a new system can help America’s Team? Majorly, for a new HC in Brian Schottenheimer.

But hey, the ‘D’ in Big D might as well be drama. So, here we are. Just days later, Brian might have made it very clear—he wants no part of Murray. And he didn’t exactly whisper it.

Apparently, new Dallas offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, who was with Arizona last season, had some things to say about his former QB. And they weren’t glowing. So, when Brian was asked if Kyler’s running game could help Dallas, he did not hide anything. “Well, it’s funny when you talk to Klayton, he said the thing about Kyler is that Kyler never really wanted to run. He was really good. But he said he’d go on to start the games, he would be like, ‘Man, I really don’t wanna! I’m not feeling like running this week,'” Schottenheimer revealed, citing Adams.

That’s right—the same Kyler Murray who once terrorized defenses with his legs. Was that the Cowboys’ new coaching staff making sure this trade rumor never sees the light of day? Maybe, maybe not. But when it comes to the dual-threat QB, is it even true?

It’s an interesting thought though, whether or not Kyler actually hates running. If you only looked at the 2024 numbers, you’d have a case. A December 18, 2024, Arizona Republic article (Why isn’t Kyler Murray running more?), reported that since week 8, Murray logged just 27 rush attempts for 130 yards—his lowest seven-game rush attempts total ever.

Not to mention that since returning from his ACL injury, his designed run attempts have nearly halved. That’s a stat line more suited for a pocket passer, not a quarterback with a $230.5 million/ 5-year contract. But here’s the kicker: When Kyler does run, he’s dangerous. In 2024, he averaged a career-best 7.3 yards per rush attempt on designed runs. If he’s so effective, why isn’t he running more?

So, maybe, let’s blame the scheme and not the QB? At the time, Cardinals OC Drew Petzing had a different take. He argued that defenses are forcing the ball out of Kyler’s hands by crashing on the run. “The threat is always there,” Petzing said, explaining how defenses scheme against Kyler’s legs, forcing more handoffs. And let’s not forget—the Cardinals’ offensive line was ranked 31st per Sharp Football Analysis last season, making it nearly impossible for Kyler to find space up the middle.

But let’s not forget his 50-yard touchdown run to open October 2024 against the San Francisco 49ers where he reached 21.27 MPH, the fastest top speed by a QB as a ball carrier on any play since his entry in 2019 and the longest TD run since 2020. Still, Schottenheimer’s message is clear.

There was nothing to decipher about it. He didn’t just mention Kyler’s running reluctance out of nowhere. This was a calculated message, both to the Cowboys’ locker room and to the fans still wondering about a Prescott replacement. Dallas needs a QB solution, but it won’t be a guy who “Doesn’t want to run.”

Schottenheimer is setting the tone early—this isn’t a Murray-friendly system. But is Arizona his final destination?

Kyler Murray has a do-or-die 2025 season

Kyler Murray isn’t just stepping into his seventh NFL season—he’s stepping into the fire. The Cardinals have bet big on him since drafting him No. 1 overall in 2019, and now, the clock is ticking. This is about a defining new season. Murray himself knows it. When asked about the Cardinals’ Super Bowl chances, he didn’t sugarcoat it. “I haven’t done enough,” he admitted. He’s hungry, and for the first time in years, he’s fully healthy. No more excuses.

Statistically, 2024 wasn’t a disaster. He threw for 3,851 yards (11th best), 21 touchdowns, and added 572 rushing yards with five scores on the ground. Not bad, right? But ‘not bad’ isn’t the standard. Murray’s biggest critics—and let’s be real, there are plenty—point to inconsistency. He flashes brilliance one week and stalls the next. But Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton believes the Cardinals aren’t pressing the panic button just yet.

“Cardinals can breathe a sigh of relief because Murray fully recovered from a torn ACL and played in every regular-season game last season, the first time he’s done that since 2020… Murray must develop a stronger rapport with wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. Other than that, Arizona has no reason to panic over its quarterback situation.”

Plus, according to Moe, they’ve upgraded the QB room, bringing in Jacoby Brissett as a reliable backup. If Murray goes down, Brissett can hold the fort. But no doubt, this team lives and dies with Kyler. The franchise has made that obvious. There’s no QB controversy, no whispers about moving on. The message? This is Murray’s team. Period.

That said, the margin for error is shrinking. Arizona’s front office and coaching staff still believe in him, but belief only carries you so far. This league is ruthless. If Murray doesn’t elevate his game, patience will wear thin. He knows it. “I’ve only been in the playoffs once,” he said, frustration evident. He’s not wrong. That lone wild-card loss feels like a lifetime ago.

Can he put it all together? The pieces are there. Drew Petzing’s offense is built to maximize his dual-threat ability. Marvin Harrison Jr. is in town, ready to be his go-to target. The defense is improving. Everything lines up for a potential breakout. But potential doesn’t win games—execution does. Murray has to be more than electric; he has to be reliable. No more ‘maybe next year’. This is it.