Did a different Kyler Murray come back from ACL rehab? - ESPN

TEMPE, Ariz. — While Arizona Cardinals left tackle D.J. Humphries tackled the monotony of rehabbing his back during the dog days of this past offseason, Kyler Murray worked alongside him.

For weeks, as the two handled their rehabs simultaneously, they talked and joked and got to know each other in ways they hadn't during Murray's first four seasons in the NFL. During their sessions, Humphries learned two things about his quarterback: Murray didn't mind putting in the work to get his knee better following surgery on his right ACL, and he was funny. Really, really funny.

«A lot funnier than he puts on,» Humphries said.

If you ask Murray who's the funniest person on the team, he'll ultimately say himself — according to wide receiver Marquise Brown, who has known Murray since college at Oklahoma.

«Like 100 percent,» Brown said. «He thinks he's so funny. You got to know him to get his jokes, for sure, but he's funny without having to be like that. He's funny unintentionally.»

For the first time in the NFL, Murray spent the offseason in Arizona instead of returning to his hometown of Dallas to train, and it allowed him to immerse himself in not just the Cardinals' offseason program but with his teammates as well.

As Murray emerged from an ACL injury that prematurely cut last season short and sidelined Murray until last weekend — when he lead a come-from-behind win over the Atlanta Falcons in his first start since last December — his teammates have welcomed back a changed Murray. He's more open and available, showing more of himself, they say.

«Guys are starting to really know him for him and knowing how good of a person and teammate he is,» Brown said. «It was good to see him interact on a personal level with our different