Cardinals’ Murphy-Bunting: Season-Ending Injury
- — The Arizona Cardinals will be without cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting for the 2025 season.
- The non-football injury designation means the injury occurred away from team facilities.
- Murphy-Bunting's $7.7 million base salary for the upcoming season is now uncertain.
Sean murphy-Bunting is out for the 2025 season. The Arizona Cardinals‘ cornerback will miss the entire year after being placed on the non-football injury list, a move that casts a shadow over his $7.7 million base salary and puts his future with the team in doubt. News Directory 3 reports the Cardinals were aware of the injury before the draft, where they selected cornerbacks Will Johnson and Max Melton, signaling a potential shift in defensive strategy. Will the team, missing Murphy-BuntingS experience, adjust its approach to compensate for the loss? Discover what’s next …
Murphy-Bunting Injury Sidelines Cardinals Cornerback, Role in Doubt
Updated May 26, 2025
Tempe, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals will be without cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting for the 2025 season. The team placed him on the reserve/non-football injury list, according to the NFL’s daily transactions report released Thursday. The Cardinals have not commented on the nature of the injury.
The non-football injury designation means the injury occurred away from team facilities. Players on the NFI list risk forfeiting their salaries.
Murphy-Bunting’s $7.7 million base salary for the upcoming season is now uncertain. The salary was part of a three-year, $22.5 million contract he signed last offseason.
In his first season with Arizona, Murphy-Bunting started 15 games, recording three interceptions and five passes defended. He was expected to compete for a starting role this year.The Cardinals’ cornerback depth will be tested.
A source indicated the Cardinals were aware of Murphy-Bunting’s injury before last month’s NFL draft. During the draft, arizona selected cornerbacks Will Johnson and Max Melton, possibly impacting Murphy-Bunting’s future role with the team.
Murphy-Bunting, 27, was drafted by Tampa bay in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft. He played a key role in the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl victory,recording three interceptions in four playoff games. He then played for Tennessee in 2023 before joining the Cardinals.
Throughout his career, Murphy-Bunting has amassed 11 interceptions and 34 passes defended in 82 regular-season games. He also has three interceptions and a fumble recovery in six playoff games. His experience will be missed.
What’s next
The Cardinals will now rely on younger players to fill the void at cornerback, with Johnson and Melton expected to compete for playing time. The team will need to adjust its defensive strategy to compensate for the loss of Murphy-Bunting’s experience and skill.