TEMPE, Ariz. — We're getting closer to seeing Kyler Murray return to the football field.
The Arizona Cardinals announced the quarterback was activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list Tuesday. Murray is expected to start Sunday, barring any setbacks.
This is the news Arizona Cardinals fans have been waiting to hear since quarterback Kyler Murray's knee injury last December.
Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannonpreviously announced Monday that Murray will be officially activated from the PUP list on this week with the goal being for Murray to start this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
"Kyler's going to continue to ramp up, he'll take the (starter) reps (at practice) and if the week goes well, he will start on Sunday," Gannon said. "(I'm) pleased where he's at right now (and) we'll see how the week goes."
Gannon did say there was a chance that Murray could be activated and not play on Sunday but said if Murray is on the field, the team has full confidence in him and his health.
"If he's out on the field, we feel good about him being healthy enough to play," Gannon said. "Every team in the NFL's banged up and we'll put our best foot forward and get the right pieces in there and give ourselves a chance to win a game."
Gannon added that it has been awesome working with Murray as he looks to make his return from a torn ACL.
"It's fun to be around him at practice, he's ultra-competitive and wants to play football, but everything that's he been doing up until this point to get himself ready to go both on and off the field, rehab, with the health stuff, with the mental stuff about playing quarterback, he's far exceeded my expectations right now," Gannon said.
Gannon also cautioned that if Murray does play on Sunday, he may not look like the quarterback fans are used to seeing.
"To get him all the reps with the ones, I think that's kind of the last step and then playing in the game is another step in the process of coming back from a major injury," Gannon said. "We've got to be willing to understand that it might not look like Kyler and I think he's got a good expectation of that, the coaches have a good expectation of that, but I know this, he's going to come out there and play his game and help us win."
If Murray does not start on Sunday, Gannon said rookie Clayton Tune will get the call once again.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made the State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers also play at the Footprint. Phoenix has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the Waste Management Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall; and Cactus League Spring Training.
12Sports on YouTube
Watch more of the latest sports videos on the 12News YouTube channel. Don’t forget to subscribe!