Cards camp notebook: Edmonds getting acclimated, standout wideouts

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Through the first two days of practice for the Arizona Cardinals’ 2018 training camp, fourth-round pick and rookie running back Chase Edmonds is still getting acclimated.

“The game is starting to slow down a little bit for me,” Edmonds said. “Still making rookie mistakes, just like a lot of us. I think the most important thing for me right now is to eliminate those mistakes and not be a mistake repeater.”

Edmonds received some second- and first-team reps during practice, something he says will help him be a step or two ahead when training camp progresses.

“It’s gonna help me tremendously once we get the pads on, for the speed of the game to slow down for me, and once that happens you don’t think as much with your plays and it’s kind of just like second nature like it’s always been in college,” he said Sunday.

Edmonds is working with running backs coach Kirby Wilson, who has an impressive resume of backs he has worked with over his two-plus decades of coaching the position. From Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith to some of the best this decade like Adrian Peterson and Le’Veon Bell, Wilson has worked with some of the greatest running backs to ever do it.

Edmonds, in fact, rattled off the list before a media member even finished pronouncing Smith’s name.

The 22-year-old running back out of Fordham lit up when discussing Wilson’s impact as a coach in the short amount of time he’s spent with him.

“You can tell he’s really involved and really invested,” Edmonds said. “I learn life lessons from him and he’s a tremendous running backs coach as well.”

Edmonds didn’t leave practice carrying pads, but he’s still had some rookie duties to fulfill already.

“I just had to get some snacks for the vets, so I was still getting the rookie treatment,” Edmonds said. “I got whatever they said, though.”

The running back said he values playing behind and learning from Pro Bowler David Johnson, who Edmonds called the most versatile back in the league.

With Edmonds looking to learn from Johnson and other veterans, he’s had one piece of advice to carry through the entire process.

“Every vet I’ve talked to, whether it be this team, outside of other teams I’ve trained with, they always said the one thing you’ve got to do to succeed in this league is never lose your confidence and that’s something I’ll never forget in my life,” he said. “I got here just like the rest of everyone else got here. Whether it be from D-1, five-star, one-star, it doesn’t matter. You’ve just got to capitalize on your opportunity.”

STANDOUT WIDEOUTS

Of the names that head coach Steve Wilks said impressed him the most in the first practice on Saturday, he mentioned two wide receivers.

“Greg Little — I thought he made some good plays. Then, also, Trent Sherfield — he did a tremendous job as well,” he said.

Sherfield, in particular, was a player that Wilks noted “did a great job of taking things from the classroom to the field.”

The 6-foot-1 Sherfield out of Vanderbilt was one of the team’s undrafted rookies to be at training camp.

Little, meanwhile, was a second-round pick in 2011 by the Browns and has been trying to find an NFL landing spot after racking up 1,890 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in three seasons with Cleveland from 2011-13.

With the uncertainty around the position outside of Larry Fitzgerald, both players have an opportunity to earn more reps. Chad Williams was receiving most of the first-team reps alongside Fitzgerald, with Brice Butler also in the mix.

EXTRA POINTS

— Cornerback Christian Campbell was previously on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) earlier in the week but was seen participating in Sunday’s practice. Campbell was the team’s sixth-round selection in this year’s draft out of Penn State and had a solid pass breakup during play on Sunday.

— Wilks did not commit to whether or not Patrick Peterson or Budda Baker would play special teams, but Baker did say on Saturday that when he tried to get some special teams work, he was told to “get out of here.”

— Wilks on Peterson’s frustration with not being targeted: “To be honest, I hope it continues to happen. And with him, he’s frustrated, but that’s the price of being great.”

Follow @KellanOlson