Sean Murphy-Bunting will miss the 2025 season
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting has been placed on the injured reserve list for non-football related reasons, meaning he will miss the 2025 season.
The news was communicated in the NFL’s daily transaction report. The Cardinals had not made any official announcement about it, and the exact nature of the injury is still unknown.
Injuries not related to American football include any injury that occurs outside of NFL facilities, including during personal training to prepare for the season. This designation could affect the player’s salary.
Murphy-Bunting was guaranteed a base salary of $7.7 million for this season, as part of the three-year, $22.5 million contract he signed last season. However, this is now at risk.
In his first season with Arizona, Murphy-Bunting started in 15 games, achieving three interceptions and five defended passes. He was expected to start again in 2025.
The Cardinals selected Will Johnson in the second round and Max Melton is also in contention to be a starter at cornerback.
Murphy-Bunting, 27, was originally selected by Tampa Bay in the second round of the 2019 draft and contributed to the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl victory in his second season.
In 2023, he played for Tennessee before joining Arizona.
In his career, Murphy-Bunting has recorded 11 interceptions and 34 passes defended in 82 regular season games, in addition to three interceptions and one fumble recovery in six playoff games.
