ARIZONA CARDINALS
Nothing to fear: Larry and David are here (at Cardinals OTAs)
It raised eyebrows Monday that Patrick Peterson wasn’t the only notable veteran who didn’t report to the Arizona Cardinals’ first day of voluntary organized team activities.
Larry Fitzgerald, David Johnson and Terrell Suggs were also absent from the only practice session open to media this week.
Fitzgerald and Johnson, however, were on the field for the Cardinals on Tuesday, the team website’s gallery showed.
Fitzgerald was also caught on video catching passes from rookie and No. 1 draft pick Kyler Murray.
The connection you've all been waiting for. pic.twitter.com/kpQf1OkCsL
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) May 22, 2019
Peterson presumably remains out of action as he suggested last week.
The Pro Bowler told reporters at his charity event that he would sit out OTAs to spend time with his family. The cornerback is expected to return for mandatory mini-camp in June and can practice and play with the team through the preseason despite his six-game suspension for PED use that will begin in the regular season.
Johnson, who two weeks ago welcomed the birth of his second child, went through his first practice with rookies and veterans present under first-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury. So did Fitzgerald.
Cardinals teammates by and large had no problem with their fellow veterans missing the first day of OTAs, and Kingsbury reminded reporters Monday that this week’s sessions are not mandatory.
“I think every guy’s situation is different,” cornerback David Amerson said. “I don’t really look at it as a bad thing. I think everybody’s situation is a little bit different.”