Aaron Murray is healthy and practicing which means the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback depth chart is officially complicated.
Murray practiced yesterday for the Chiefs and looked pretty good, according to the Kansas City Star’s Terez A. Paylor. Murray moved around well and connected on two deep passes in the practice session that was open to the media. All of the work Murray has put into his rehab appears to be paying off for him.
"“I pretty much lived in the training room for about five, six months,” Murray said. “It was non-stop rehab, taking care of my body, making sure I am getting enough rest, making sure I am eating properly and doing all of the little things. I also had some great doctors and great athletic trainers work on me during the whole process.”"
Murray is wearing a knee brace to keep his knee stabilized, and he’s admitted it has taken some getting used to. But the brace doesn’t appear to be slowing down the Chiefs promising rookie quarterback who some thought may be the best quarterback in the draft when healthy.
With the Chiefs deciding to let Murray hit the ground running at training camp it means he is no longer eligible to be placed on the Physically Unable To Perform List. The list is designed as a mini injured reserve for players who are still recovering from injuries like the one Murray suffered. Putting Murray on the list would have saved the Chiefs the decision of having to cut or trade one of Tyler Bray or Chase Daniel, but now it would appear one of those two will be gone by the end of August.
There is the option of keeping four quarterbacks on the roster but the Chiefs are not in a position to make such a move. Kansas City’s lack of weapons at wide receivers and question marks on the offensive line puts a priority of giving extra roster spots to those two areas.
Future salary cap considerations will also play a role in what the Chiefs decide to do. Kansas City needs some extra space for the 2015 season in order to keep Justin Houston and Alex Smith while also giving themselves some wiggle room to re-sign other key free agents and add some depth to the roster. The Chiefs could really use the cap space a guy like Daniel would open up.
It is a simple move of letting Murray practice but it is a big step on the quarterback competition. Barring an injury in the preseason, Murray is going to make this team. Go ahead and start the clock on the Daniel vs. Bray race.