The Arizona Cardinals held their final practice of the week on Sunday, the final of four practices before their day off on Monday. Here is what I observed while I was there.
More vet days off
On Saturday, veterans Chandler Jones, Corey Peters and Marcus Gilbert did not practice. Kliff Kingsbury said Sunday they were scheduled veteran days off. They returned to practice on Sunday, but three others sat out. Larry Fitzgerald, Terrell Suggs and Patrick Peterson all got Sunday off before the team’s off day on Monday.
Other players returning, sitting out
Receiver Chad Williams again did not practice. Running back D.J. Foster, who sat out on Saturday, returned to action on Sunday. Offensive lineman Jeremy Vujnovich was in shorts on Sunday.
Foster is coming off a torn ACL, so Saturday’s rest might have also been scheduled. Vujnovich landed on injured reserve with a hamstring tear last year, so coming back from an injury, it might be a scheduled rest day for him.
DL Vincent Valentine and S D.J. Swearinger were still out on Sunday.
Nkemdiche gone, but No. 90 is back
The Cardinals announced the release of defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche Saturday night, but the No. 90 he wore for three seasons was taken right away. Veteran defensive lineman Terrell McClain, who had been wearing No. 62, was wearing No. 90 in practice.
Hakeem Butler has ups and downs
Butler made some plays and also left some on the field. He made two touchdown catches that are hard to beat. One was a one-handed grab with Chris Jones draped all over him. The other was in the corner of the end zone and he had to jump up and get it. However, he did drop two or three passes he should have caught later in practice.
Byron Murphy in the slot
With Patrick Peterson getting the day off, Murphy got to work with the first-team defense. He worked in the slot, while Tramaine Brock played outside. He made some plays again on Sunday, breaking up a couple of passes.
A.Q.’s day with the 1’s
Mason Cole got first-team snaps on Saturday. In early drills, both centers alternated between the first and the second teams. However, Shipley got all the snaps with the first team in team drills.
KeeSean getting more time with 1’s
Johnson has gotten a little bit of buzz since the start of camp. He saw a lot of work with the first-team offense on Sunday with Larry Fitzgerald out.
The Cardinals rotate several receivers in and out with the first team. On Sunday, the receivers who got first-team snaps were Johnson, Christian Kirk, Pharoh Cooper, Damiere Byrd and Andy Isabella, although Isabella to a lesser extent. Kevin White and Trent Sherfield spent almost all their time on the second team.
CB rotation
The first-team cornerbacks were Robert Alford, Tramaine Brock and Byron Murphy. On the second team, it was Chris Jones, undrafted rookie Nate Brooks and Deatrick Nichols. Nichols played in the slot.
Standout plays
Kyler Murray had a couple of runs that would have been highlights in a game.
Hakeem Butler had the two touchdown catches previously mentioned.
Andy Isabella made a touchdown catch with safety Josh Shaw all over him.
Rookie Zach Allen batted down a pass, something he did frequently in college.
CB Deatrick Nichols had an interception in the end zone.
Christian Kirk had one highlight catch and also made a nasty move on a DB.
Before practice began, the punt returners competed to see how many balls they could catch and hold on to. From what I could see, Christian Kirk and Pharoh Cooper both got to four.
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