Cardinals rookie D.J. Humphries quietly progressing

TEMPE, Ariz. — In a lot of ways, D.J. Humphries’ rookie season has gone according to plan.

Though the 24th overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft, the hope was that with Jared Veldheer at left tackle and Bobby Massie at right tackle, the former Florida Gator would not be needed this year.

He could, for all intents and purposes, sit on the sideline and learn his craft, readying himself for a future that appears to be rather promising.

However, it’s fair to say few expected Humphries to be inactive for each of the Cardinals’ first seven games, which is exactly what he has been. Whether he was ready or not, the team was not ready for him.

But Humphries, 21, is on the right track.

“I just kind of gave B.A. a drive by and said, ‘Man, he’s getting better,'” offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin said. “He’s working harder. He’s starting to see what these older guys are doing, these veteran guys and just kind of doing what they do. But he is getting better.”

Goodwin said Humphries has been putting in good work in the weight room, too, and that the rookie’s evolution is on display.

“He’s making strides, but as we know, Rome wasn’t built in a day,” he added.

Nicknamed “Knee Deep” in the offseason because he needed a little extra motivation at times, Humphries too said he feels like things are moving in the right direction.

“Definitely feel like things are starting to change and come around,” he said. “I think it’s just I’m starting to get comfortable. Stuff is starting to feel more natural, muscle memory is getting down pat. Learning the speed of the game and just learning what everybody expects from me.”

Even if the Cardinals don’t need much from Humphries this season, the fact that he is making progress is a very good sign. At some point, the team will likely need to turn to the 6-foot-5, 307-pounder, be it this year or next.

“A lot of progress,” Arians said of what he’s seeing from the first-round pick. “I really like where he’s at right now, his competitive level. (Defensive end) Dwight Freeney’s helped him a little bit too, as (linebacker) Markus Golden has the whole time he’s been here. They get after it and if you don’t get after it, you’ll get embarrassed. He’s handled himself pretty well.”

Goodwin said along with the physical aspect of the game, Humphries needed to learn the mental side, including what it takes to play at a consistently high level. That may not be too surprising, really, as he would not be the first rookie to have a bit of a learning curve before being a reliable, finished product.

The offensive coordinator pointed to 2013 first-round pick Jonathan Cooper as a very talented player who has needed time to grow, so that Humphries may be on the same path is not necessarily a terrible thing.

If nothing else, it’s just the way it is.

“I think it’s just one of those things,” Humphries said of not being ready to play just yet. “I knew I wasn’t ready, that was clear. But I feel like it’s not taking too much time as long as I’m getting better. It’s taking too much time if I’m just sitting still and I’m not getting any better.

“As long as I’m getting better and I’m progressing, I feel like I’m not going to rush it all. I want to be as prepared as I can be to be ready to help this team out when I get put out on the field.”

Follow @theAdamGreen