Notes from the Nest: Cardinals hold light practice before first preseason game

GLENDALE, Ariz. — It really should not come as a surprise that the Cardinals did not really go at it on Wednesday, as the team will be playing its first preseason game just two days later when the Oakland Raiders come to town.

Rhough they were in shells (shoulder pads and helmets only) and there was really nothing in the way of hitting, Arizona still got its work in and in the process appeared to be getting its backup QBs ready for an increased role.

The Good

– Larry Fitzgerald made some nice grabs, including a one-handed snag when going across the middle.

– Tight end Ifeanyi Momah had a solid afternoon, including a catch of a nice deep ball down the sideline that he pulled in despite pretty good coverage .

– Michael Floyd came down with a Drew Stanton pass in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown in red zone work.

– J.J. Nelson and Jaron Brown scored touchdowns in the red zone, too.

The Bad

Outside of some open receivers being missed on a few throws, there didn’t seem to be all that much bad.

Noteable

– With a handful of defensive linemen on the shelf due to injury, Ed Stinson and Xavier Williams continued to see reps with the first-team.

– Carson Palmer did not get his normal share of reps. The same can be said for Patrick Peterson, too.

– Larry Fitzgerald spent some time with the second-team offense due to, presumably, injuries at the position. Speaking of which, Fitzgerald seemed to be a little more vocal with and supportive of his fellow receivers the last couple of days. Not that he isn’t normally. It was just more visible.

– Cornerback Elie Bouka was on the field doing individual drills for the first time this camp, though he was not spotted during any of the team stuff.

– Our own Craig Grialou spotted Arians pulling young receivers Chris Hubert and Amir Carlisle aside at different times.

Quotable

“No, we don’t have any pushing and shoving. They’re just tired of listening to each other. Two days ago they weren’t going hard enough to get chippy. Yesterday was a lot better.” – Arians on if he’s noticed camp getting a bit chippy lately

“Just I think being myself and getting completions is my number one goal. I don’t have an answer of what to prove or what the coaches want to see. But if they see that I am moving the ball, getting completions — what a quarterback should do — then that should be good.” – Matt Barkley on what he thinks he needs to prove Friday

“I take more shots. I learned my lesson the first time he let me call plays a couple years back, and a halftime speech he gave me, it wasn’t nice. It was still professional, but he goes, you’ve just got to take more shots. But at the end of the day he tells me, he told me early this week, be yourself, call what you want, don’t mind me. But it’s hard not to mind your boss when he’s looking at you.” – Harold Goodwin on where he’s improved as a play-caller the last couple of years

Injury Report

No one new was added to the injury list, though these players have officially been ruled out for Friday:

C Taylor Boggs (calf), WR John Brown (concussion), LB Alani Fua (knee), WR Brittan Golden (hamstring), CB Asa Jackson (leg), CB Mike Jenkins (hand), WR J.J. Nelson (groin), DT Robert Nkemdiche (ankle), DT Corey Peters (plantar fasciitis), OL Earl Watford (knee).

Arians said CB Cariel Brooks (quad), DT Olsen Pierre and WR Jaxon Shipley (foot) are questionable for the game.

Stories to read

As usual, Jaron Brown is impressing in training camp.

Larry Fitzgerald is still a nice guy.

Bruce Arians talked all things Cardinals in his daily press conference.

A healthy Troy Niklas is an impressive Troy Niklas.

Michael Bidwill said lending the team’s practice facility to the Arizona Wildcats was ‘an easy decision.’

D.J. Humphries has matured, but he still makes people laugh.

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