Camp K report: Kyler Murray shines in Cardinals Red and White practice

GLENDALE, Ariz. – This was the same looking Kyler Murray witnessed throughout the first two weeks of training camp. Only this was the most game-like scenario he’d faced so far.

He looked as steady as usual Saturday in the Arizona Cardinals’ Red and White Practice at State Farm Stadium.

“He’s a guy who’s going to come in everyday and work, and he wants to be great, so I feel like you’re going to get the same guy,” rookie receiver KeeSean Johnson said. “You’re going to get the same guy every day.”

Murray completed 14-of-18 passes, two of which came on drops and another on a throwaway. His only real miss was questionable, as Kevin White didn’t adjust to a ball thrown behind him as he ran along the sideline. Murray also wasn’t shy using his legs. He and backup quarterback Brett Hundley pulled the ball and ran their fair share, something they might not have gotten away with had the practice included tackling.

Mind you, Arizona’s first-team offense played against the second-team defense, and the first-team defense faced the second-team offense.

It was nonetheless a promising sign for the offense led by first-year NFL head coach Kliff Kingsbury and rookie quarterback Murray.

What and who else stood out Saturday during the nearly two full hours of scrimmaging?

— Arizona treated the atmosphere as a real game, not only for their stadium operations staff but for the team. The Cardinals worked out in position groups, reentered the locker room and returned to the field, getting used to a pregame routine that will take place starting Thursday as they host the Los Angeles Chargers.

“Nobody wants to get out there on their first preseason game looking like a bunch of slackers, running into each other,” tackle D.J. Humphries said. “It was good to go out there and run through it one time before Thursday.”

— Receiver drops stalled the second Murray-led drive. Tight end Ricky Seals-Jones and receivers Christian Kirk, Trent Sherfield and Pharoh Cooper all dropped catchable balls during the practice.

— Johnson and Damiere Byrd earned first-team reps at receiver, and both came through. Byrd made three catches during Murray’s final drive, which ended with a Zane Gonzalez 45-yard field goal.

— Prior to that drive, Gonzalez struggled during a field goal unit portion of the practice, scattering misses from 42, 43 and 45 yards out.

— Third-string running back T.J. Logan ripped off a long touchdown run up the middle against the first-team defense on what appeared to be a missed assignment.

— Center Mason Cole also got reps at tackle with the backup units.

— Both sides of the ball struggled with pre-snap penalties.

— The scrimmage ended when rookie safety Deionte Thompson picked off quarterback Drew Anderson in the end zone – tight end Caleb Wilson fell down on the play – and returned it for a touchdown to end the day.

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