The storyline about Kyler Murray and his ACL injury is long over. He played all last season after playing eight games in 2023. But when it comes to a quarterback who can run like Murray, maybe it never quite leaves the story.

"It's a lingering thing," Murray said. "It lingered a little bit into last season and now I feel like I'm back to where I was before. Obviously my knee will probably never be the same as far as that goes but it's as close as it's going to get."

Given all the conversation about how much Murray may or may not run this season, his legs remain significant. He broke off some incredible long runs last season, true backbreakers at times (like the TD scamper to open the game in San Francisco.)

He did have a career-best 7.3 yards a carry last season, although his 572 yards (the second-highest total in his career) was far short of the 819 he gained in 2020. That year he had 8.3 rushing attempts a game; last season, 4.6.

Murray continues to do work with Buddy Morris, the rehab coach even through this offseason.

"it's just something you have to stay on top of," Murray said. "The people I have talked to, Year Two, which this year would be for me, is the year where you finally feel like yourself."

-- The Cardinals had a second straight padded practice on Tuesday, the first time they have done that since Jonathan Gannon arrived as coach. "Bingo," he said when asked about it.

Gannon had said before camp that there would be more "friction" in camp this season. He acknowledged Tuesday that back-to-back pads was part of that added friction.

-- Gannon shrugged off the idea the offense was as bad on Monday as Murray had said that day, noting that Murray is usually tough on himself. But the offense definitely looked better Tuesday. Murray's first sequence of 11-on-11 reps ended with a nice backshoulder seam throw to tight end Trey McBride and then a nice throw to Marvin Harrison Jr. on the sidelined (MHJ made a beautiful catch to complete the play.)

-- In the red zone, Murray was picked off by safety Jalen Thompson. The Cardinals had two receivers near each other in the corner of the end zone; Thompson was covering the one near the goal line and Murray was trying to get it over his head to the pass catcher in the corner. Didn't work.

-- Right guard Isaiah Adams, who had good reps against Calais Campbell on Monday during one-on-ones, repeated the effort going against Darius Robinson on Tuesday. It's his starting job to lose, and Adams hasn't had many missteps.

-- Speaking of Adams, he made such a good block during a McBride tunnel screen in the red zone and as the play was ending, Gannon marched purposefully toward the line of scrimmage to give Adams a big attaboy hand slap.

-- One name that has been under the radar and perhaps shouldn't be is third-year defensive lineman Dante Stills, who is impressing yet again even with all the veterans added to his room.

-- The Cardinals are off Wednesday, and return to State Farm Stadium on Thursday with an open practice.