CARDINALS CORNER

Cardinals QB Clayton Tune’s mindset unchanged despite training camp hype

Aug 3, 2023, 6:30 AM | Updated: 11:21 pm

GLENDALE — Rookie quarterback Clayton Tune didn’t know what to expect walking into his first training camp as an Arizona Cardinal last week.

Like many rookies, he went in with the mindset of just making the most of whatever reps came his way — however few there might be.

The expectation was to just go in, work hard and make a good first impression.

Fast forward to Wednesday — officially one week into camp — and Tune has done that and more with the hefty amount of snaps he’s taken.

It’s not just about the quantity, either, as the QB has spent the majority of camp with the second-team offense while also getting a few looks with the 1s.

And with every completion and mention has come more attention, especially given the team’s well-known quarterback situation highlighted by Kyler Murray’s continued rehab from a torn ACL and unknown timeline for return.

You don’t have to look far on social media to see the words “potential 2023 starter” and “Clayton Tune” said in the same sentence.

But for Tune, it’s all about keeping that same attitude he entered camp with as a bright-eyed 2023 fifth-rounder out of Houston.

“I’m happy with the growth throughout camp, but there’s always things to work on,” the QB said Wednesday. “I’ve never had a perfect practice as long as I played football, so there’s always things I got to work on. I feel like there’s also some things I’ve done well.

“My mindset is to go in with the reps I get and continue to get better,” he added. “Learn from the reps that I got before and use what I learn for the reps that I get going forward.”

Tune’s early returns have a lot to do with his work away from the field and the team this offseason.

Following organized team activities and a pair of minicamps, the signal caller was on his own to make the most of the downtime in front of him.

He dove into the playbook and walked through his reads while at home in Texas.

It was all about not having to relearn the things he picked up during OTAs and minicamps. He wanted to enter training camp with a sharp sense of the playbook.

The dedication has been on display for his coaches and teammates ever since.

“I like him, I like him for sure,” said receiver Zach Pascal, who has been one of Tune’s top targets so far in camp. “The quicker he knows the playbook, the quicker he can make those throws, because he definitely has an arm on him for sure.”

But with every rookie, there’s going to be growing pains, whether it’s an errant throw or missed read.

Luckily for Tune, he has a pair of mentors in Colt McCoy and Kyler Murray sitting right there next to him in the QBs room to bounce questions off of.

“I think it just goes back to how to be a pro,” Tune said on what he’s picked up from the veterans.

“Colt’s played in the NFL for a long time, Kyler’s played for a few years now, so they’ve learned a lot of just how to play the game, how to manage and operate during a game and just how to conduct yourself off the field.”

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Arizona Cardinals CB Antonio Hamilton tackles RB Emari Demercado on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals LB BJ Ojulari looks on during training camp on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QBs coach Israel Woolfork looks on during training camp on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Clayton Tune looks on during training camp on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Colt McCoy smiles during training camp on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals OC Drew Petzing looks on during training camp on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals S Isaiah Simmons looks on during training camp on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals OLBs Zaven Collins and BJ Ojulari run through drills during training camp on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) The Arizona Cardinals offense huddles during the Red & White practice on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals TE Bernhard Seikovits signs an autograph during the Red & White practice on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals OLB Zaven Collins signs an autograph during Red & White practice on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals TE Zach Ertz signs an autograph during Red & White practice on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) An Arizona Cardinals fan looks on during the Red & White practice on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Michael Wilson signs autographs during the Red & White practice on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Andre Baccellia looks on during the Red & White practice on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) An Arizona Cardinals fan looks on during the Red & White practice on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals RB Emari Demercado runs the rock during the Red & White practice on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Clayton Tune attempts a pass during the Red & White practice on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Jeff Driskel run through drills during training camp on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QBs coach Israel Woolfork looks on during training camp on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Clayton Tune looks on during training camp on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort chats during training camp on Friday, July 28, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon looks on during training camp on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals S JuJu Hughes looks on during training camp on Friday, July 28, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Andre Baccellia looks on during training camp on Friday, July 28, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals during training camp on Friday, July 28, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals LB Josh Woods runs through drills during training camp on Friday, July 28, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Michael Wilson and CB Marco Wilson run through drills during training camp on Friday, July 28, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Michael Wilson looks on during training camp on Friday, July 28, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals TE Bernhard Seikovits looks on during training camp on Friday, July 28, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner looks on during training camp on Friday, July 28, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) JuJu Hughes at training camp Arizona Cardinals S Budda Baker (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Clayton Tune speaks with reporters during training camp on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Clayton Tune looks on during training camp on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals RB Ty'Son Williams runs through drills during training camp on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner runs through drills during training camp on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals OL Lecitus Smith looks on during training camp on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals OL Lecitus Smith works on his snaps during training camp on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon looks on during training camp on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Cameron Thomas runs through drills during training camp on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Myjai Sanders looks on during training camp on Monday, July 31, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis chats with wide receiver Michael Wilson during training camp on Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals fans during training camp on Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Andre Baccellia makes a catch during training camp on Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Andre Baccellia makes a catch during training camp on Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Brandon Smith makes a catch during training camp on Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals fans during training camp on Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals fans during training camp on Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals fan looks on during training camp on Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals fan looks on during training camp on Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort chats during training camp on Friday, July 28, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray looks on during training camp on Friday, July 28, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner runs through drills during training camp on Friday, July 28, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals RB Corey Clement runs through drills during training camp on Friday, July 28, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner runs through drills during training camp on Friday, July 28, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Jeff Driskel throws a pass during training camp on Friday, July 28, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Kyzir White at training camp Arizona Cardinals CB Kei'Trel Clark runs through drills during training camp on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Colt McCoy runs through drills during training camp on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Kei'Trel Clark looks on during training camp on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Rashad Fenton runs through drills during training camp on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Christian Matthew runs through drills during training camp on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Marco Wilson runs through drills during training camp on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Kyler McMichael runs through drills during training camp on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Rashad Fenton runs through drills during training camp on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Bobby Price runs through drills during training camp on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Antonio Hamilton runs through drills during training camp on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Bobby Price runs through drills during training camp on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Rashad Fenton runs through drills during training camp on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in Glendale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)

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