Final thoughts as Cardinals training camp breaks ahead of game vs. Raiders

GLENDALE — The Arizona Cardinals are heading back to Tempe after breaking training camp on Tuesday.

Next up, the bulk of their preseason slate, starting with a Thursday game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

But before the video boards are fully installed and head coach Mike LaFleur really settles into his new digs at Arizona’s training facility, some final thoughts on camp:

Cardinals training camp takeaways

Cardinals playmakers could eat well in this offense

It didn’t take long to notice one thing about LaFleur’s offense. It was getting its playmakers open.

That’s not to say Arizona’s playmakers didn’t have something to do with it, or the defense not getting it done, but a lot of times, the illusion of complexity with an emphasis of simplicity gave players the upper hand.

I can’t help but think of the wide-open spaces Marvin Harrison Jr. had throughout camp. Sure, he had the case of the drops, but his ability to separate plus LaFleur’s scheme made getting open look easy.

There’s also the many ways Michael Wilson is being utilized.

LaFleur wasn’t kidding when he said he envisioned Wilson in the Puka Nacua role in Arizona’s offense.

The wide receiver was used across the formation, including in the backfield and brought WR1 consistency throughout all of it.

Coming off his breakout season and adding an impressive camp on top of it only makes a contract extension seem like a no-brainer.

The mentality, consistency, work ethic, versatility and route-running says all you need to know.

And tight end Trey McBride continues to be exactly what we all saw last year. No concerns there.

The question marks remain in the trenches

The starting offensive line got mixed reviews this camp.

There were pockets of good, including some gaping holes for Jeremiyah Love in the Red & White Practice, but still plenty to clean up.

And yes, it starts on the right side.

Isaiah Adams took most of the first-team reps at right guard, though was inconsistent throughout.

Darius Robinson, who was among the camp’s standouts, had his number multiple times.

Elijah Wilkinson also struggled to find consistency against the pass rush.

Rookie Chase Bisontis is picking up steam after a slower start to camp but has yet to find consistent reps at right guard with the 1s.

If he can continue to stack days, the second-rounder could find himself in the starting lineup sooner rather than later, especially if Adams can’t stop the pass rush.

Arizona’s playmakers have a chance to really thrive in this offense, but they must get proper time and space to do so.

Defensively, it starts with Walter Nolen III.

He was back practicing Tuesday — LaFleur said he was good — after being seen with a wrap around his hand in Monday’s jog-through.

Nolen stretched out before getting both hands wrapped and also had a brace on his left arm.

Being that Nolen has had two issues crop up in camp so far — the left hand/arm and knee — and is coming off an injury-riddled rookie season, a lot of eyes are going to be on his availability as much as his final stat line.

Because while there are questions about his health, there’s no doubting what Nolen brings to the football field.

“He’s just got that twitch.”

Walter Nolen III does things you simply can’t coach, says Cardinals DL coach Pete Kwiatkowski. pic.twitter.com/n0aLhfjFpz

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) August 10, 2026

“Walter is extremely talented. He plays how you want to play. He does a lot of things that you can’t coach,” defensive line coach Pete Kwiatkowski said Monday.

“The way he tears off of blocks, the way he feels pressure, the way that he gets on an edge in pass rush. … And he’s just got that twitch. He goes this way, but he’s going the other way like that. he has the ability to dictate to the offensive line in a one-on-one situation.”

Fantasy football managers aren’t going to like this

Let’s talk running backs!

There’s a very good chance we see something an Atlanta 2023-type carries split when it comes to the one-two punch of Tyler Allegier and Jeremiyah Love.

Love got plenty of first-team run this camp, but Allgeier was still the first running back in the mix more times than not.

And with LaFleur, Love and Allgeier all talking about the need for multiple backs, there’s going to be a lot of back and forth in Arizona’s backfield.

Where Love is going to separate, however, is as a pass catcher. The rookie has looked sharp as a receiver, giving Mack Wilson Sr. some grief in one-on-ones and making a couple of tough snags along the way.

He’s got the jets, shiftiness and hands to be a real dual threat on that side of the football to make up for the snaps split in the run game.

And that’s before even mentioning James Conner’s potential role in it all.

Trey Benson has a lot of ground to make up

But what about Trey Benson?

After starting off slow this camp, the running back is again on the shelf with a knee issue.

He was already on the bubble before the injury update.

And with him sidelined, Bam Knight has made his case that much more heard for the final spot in the room.

General manager Monti Ossenfort didn’t dive into specifics when talking about how many the team would keep — Arizona’s done three or four in the past — but given LaFleur’s desire for depth at the position and just how bad the unit was last year, four seems like the move.

Either way, it’s hard to see Benson on the roster come cutdown day.

Carson Beck is getting it

Carson Beck started out camp rough, but has since settled in.

His confidence continues to be a talking point, and like Kendrick Bourne put it, the rookie just looks like he’s having fun on the football field.

The Hall of Fame Game was a great confidence booster for the quarterback.

But it was his no-look touchdown strike to rookie wide receiver Reggie Virgil that really showed where his confidence is at in LaFleur’s system — even if LaFleur wasn’t thrilled with getting the two-point conversion off the next play and losing the “game” 17-16.

 

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There’s a lot of good to build off of for Beck with more preseason action expected.

But it’s still Jacoby Brissett’s job (for now)

The Cardinals’ quarterback situation instantly found itself at the center of plenty national shows after Thursday’s game.

Questions like: Does Beck deserve to start after Hall of Fame Game showing? And is Jacoby Brissett’s job already in trouble?

Beck impressed, but it’s still Brissett’s job for now.

The veteran has worked exclusively with the first-team offense since returning to action and inking his reworked contract that pays him as Arizona’s starter.

His teammates love having him here and clearly view him as the guy.

You also don’t pay a guy starter money to then turn around and have the rookie start Week 1. That’s just not smart business.

So while Beck looks like he’s making steady progress for when his number is eventually called, it’s likely not for at least an early portion of the season (barring injury or complete disaster).

 

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The Josh Sweat chatter isn’t going away

Despite all the talk about Sweat doing his own training away from the team and how he was working through maintenance more than anything else while on the physically unable to perform list, the pass rusher remains on the shelf.

He did not log one camp practice and will be back in “due time,” according to Ossenfort.

The general manager also didn’t debunk the offseason rumors that Sweat requested a trade this offseason when given the chance to clarify on Monday, only adding to the speculation that there’s more going on behind the scenes.

 

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Ossenfort believes the roster is “highly competitive”, and the goal is to make the playoffs in 2026. If Sweat isn’t on the team, that’s hard to believe.

The Cardinals are already well behind the eight ball in the pass-rushing department. Not having Sweat would be a death sentence.

Kendrick Bourne already a glue guy

What isn’t hard to believe is how wide receiver Kendrick Bourne is already helping mesh the offense on and off the field.

Bourne’s energy is infectious — him getting Jalen Brooks in on the end-of-camp dance party on Tuesday was a good example of that — and he’s already nailed down different handshakes with everyone in the wide receivers room.

 

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The veteran wideout has also been a teaching tool for LaFleur as he gets everyone on the same page of what he’s looking for.

Those little things that Bourne picked up from LaFleur in San Francisco can go a long way in helping translate concepts to the rest of the room.

And how can you hate that vibe?