All-Access with Bruce Arians: Injury list short as camp comes to an end

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Head coach Bruce Arians, now in his fourth year with the Arizona Cardinals, meets the media each day during training camp.

Here, in this space, we’ll highlight many of the key topics and personnel conversations he has with reporters following the morning walk-through.

“Very short list missing today: Shaq Riddick, Alex Okafor, who is real close. Ed Stinson is going to go through individual, see how much he can do. (Elie) Bouka and I’m taking Larry (Fitzgerald) out again today until we get this thing calmed down totally. Other than that, everybody is ready to roll.”

Will you also then keep Fitzgerald out of this week’s game, too?

“We’ll see.”

How is John Brown?

“He was fine this morning. We’ll see how he shows up, headache free or whatever. If not, he’ll have his yellow jersey on.”

Did he suffer a setback?

“I don’t know anything about concussions other than he was fine and then he had a recurring headache. Once you get a headache, we got to treat as still a problem. It could be sinuses, it could be anything, but when you have a concussion, it’s different.”

Do you anticipate any of the players who came off the physically unable to perform list playing this week?

“Yeah. We’ll see how the rest of this week goes and how they feel.”

Looked like Robert Nkemdiche had a good practice yesterday?

“Yeah, he had a good day, when he didn’t think he could practice. I thought the 1-on-1s were good. I thought the team periods he was still a little bit high at times. He’s obviously got pass-rush ability.”

When healthy, can you imagine what this defense may be able to do?

“Oh yeah and they’ve been playing at a pretty high level already. They’ve been put into some bad situations as far as offense turning the ball over in the plus end of the field, but yeah, I think our defense has a chance to be really, really solid.”

What do you need to see out of Tyrann Mathieu to know he’s game-ready?

“I mean he’s moving around good. He’s still not cutting it totally loose. I would like to see him in game-action, not necessarily do I need to see him in game-action. That would tell me he’s ready, when he feels that.”

 You have the second-longest training camp in the league, is that something you prefer or out of your hands?

“Yeah, I prefer it this way. We get more work done here than going to Tempe and being 90 guys in the bubble with the limited space. So, I would rather continue to practice here and have another week. Most teams have already broke (camp). It’s not like it’s a grind.”

How do you think training camp has gone thus far?

“I thought we’ve had an outstanding camp again. It’s such a great facility to have it. We’ve got great meeting room space, locker room space, weight room space. This is a fantastic site to have training camp. And to practice in our stadium and get used to it, especially for young players so that when they come in here it’s not an extra excitement level because we’re in the stadium.”

What makes Jaron Brown such a good special teams player?        

“Well, he’s got length and speed and he’s tough. He’s got a defensive player’s mentality. For a receiver to be a core special teamer that’s a very unique skill set.”

How does Red Bryant look to you?

“Red is in great shape and still stuffs the run as good as ever and is doing a heck of a job. He’s a captain this week.”

With still two games remaining has there been any separation between the long snappers, Kameron Canaday and Daniel Dillon?

“Not really to speak of. They both have pluses and minuses. Anxious to see them both again on the road.

Did you think about asking Mike Leach to come back?

“No, not at all. I know I’d be talking to the wind. Julie (Leach) ain’t letting that happen.”

With the first round of cuts coming next week do you kind of have an idea of who is not going to make it?

 “Pretty much. It’s not a very hard one to make. The second round will be really tough.”

Follow @CraigAZSports