Camp K report: Center A.Q. Shipley set on starting, Cardinals practice outside

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The air went out of the Arizona Cardinals’ last Red and White practice when starting center A.Q. Shipley went down with an ACL injury, pushing then-rookie Mason Cole into action for all of 2018.

On the eve of the 2019 version of the pre-preseason event at State Farm Stadium, Shipley reiterated his displeasure that the center position has been deemed by head coach Kliff Kingsbury as a two-man competition.

“No, I don’t like that, not one bit,” Shipley said Friday. “I’m here to win a job the sooner I can.

“I started 32 games (in 2017 and 2018),” he added. “The reason he started last year is obviously ’cause I got hurt. He did well, obviously I understand the competition thing, I understand what they’re doing, but I’m going to do everything I can to go out there and win it.”

Take his word for it. Or take his fitness for it.

Shipley’s rehab from the knee injury made him watch his weight over the offseason. He’s the leanest he’s been as an NFL player and made sure not to put on extra offseason weight with his ACL recovery in mind.

“Every offseason when you’re playing, you take two months off, you drink, you eat and before you know it, you’re 20 pounds up. I didn’t have that luxury this offseason,” the 33-year-old said. “I didn’t want to get to 320, 330 (pounds) when I’m rehabbing a knee. That’s not the best thing for it so I got down to 295ish and stayed there.”

As for the starting job, well, Shipley would rather Kingsbury name a starter sooner rather than later. That would allow he or Cole to work solely with starting quarterback Kyler Murray. And if Shipley were to win it, that would give Cole more time to explore a shift to guard, where he could be needed in a pinch.

“Until they tell me it’s not mine, it’s mine,” Shipley said of the starting center job.

Outside hot hustle

The Cardinals went through an hour-plus practice outside of State Farm Stadium on Friday, bearing the 98 degree heat and near-30% humidity.

“We got the work we needed. Just wanted high intensity, less volume based upon kind of how we set up our practices with our sports science crew and their recommendations,” Kingsbury said.

Isabella knee injury not significant

Receiver and second-round pick Andy Isabella suffered a minor knee injury in practice Thursday while making a tough touchdown grab during team drills. The good news is it’s not expected to keep him out long.

“I expect him back sooner than later, I’ll put it that way,” Kingsbury said.

The head coach added he was “hopeful” Isabella could play Thursday in the preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers but wasn’t going to push the rookie to play if he wasn’t ready.

All aboard the hoverboard

D.J. Swearinger cited fresh legs and feet when discussing his reasoning for rolling around Cardinals practices the last few days on a hoverboard.

“I get off my feet while I’m on my feet,” he said.

Would such a tactic be adopted by fellow teammates hoping to save their legs over the course of a long season?

“You got to have a little skill … and the weight limit is 220. You got to be a DB or a skatback or a skat wide receiver. Not too many people can get away from it.”

Swearinger, by the way, is “trusting the process” as he continues to sit out with a soft tissue injury.

“When my time is ready I’ll be ready to go. September 8 is the main focus,” he said of the regular season opener.

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