Cardinals’ A.J. Green on 2021 offense: ‘I think we left a lot (out there)’

The Arizona Cardinals have not followed in the footsteps with big outside free-agent signings. Instead, the team has brought back a good amount of its own players from a year that ended in what-ifs.

After a 10-2 start turned into a lackluster finish, highlighted by an NFC Wild Card round loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the Cardinals know there’s still much to be had offensively.

“I think we left a lot (out there),” wide receiver A.J. Green said on the Big Red Rage on Thursday.

“Just going back and reflecting on the season and watching some of the games we missed, me personally, I didn’t finish the season where I wanted to finish and I got to be better.”

Green returns to Arizona on his second one-year deal in as many seasons after posting the second-most receiving yards on the team with 848 and recording the third-most receiving touchdowns on the team in 2021.

With the departure of wideout Christian Kirk in free agency, it was important that Arizona could find a productive pass catcher, while also giving quarterback Kyler Murray a familiar face.

For Green, the keys to answering 2021’s what-ifs are simple and the room for growth is evident.

“Being on key with Kyler and communicating with him, for me, that’s what I have to do better, communicating with K1,” Green said. “Don’t let it be anyone else communicating with him what I am saying, let it be him telling me what he sees and what I need to do.

“If you look at my year last year, I feel like I had a productive year. My second year is going to be more productive. I had different places that wanted me but I made a decision that fits me well.”