Notes from the Nest: Aug. 22, 2014

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Friday was the final day of Arizona Cardinals training camp, as the team will now move its operations to the training facility in Tempe for the remainder of the season. It was a fairly lively practice.

Of Note

– Tackle Max Starks returned in a limited role, while Jonathan Cooper (toe) and Kevin Minter (pectoral) remained out. Arians said the latter two are “game-time decisions” for Sunday’s preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

– Absent from Friday was field goals, as neither Jay Feely nor Chandler Catanzaro got a chance to show what they had. Sunday’s game stands to be pretty important in that battle.

– Bruce Arians said tackle Bradley Sowell has shown great improvement during the last couple weeks in camp.

– John Carlson made a few nice catches. If training camp is any indication, this guy will feature prominently in the offense this season.

– Andre Ellington had another nice reception on a wheel route. Cardinals linebackers certainly can’t cover him, and I wonder if anyone’s can.

– I saw Patrick Peterson come down with an interception.

Stat of the Day

Though he was selected first overall in the 2003 NFL Draft, Carson Palmer did not see his first regular-season NFL snap until his second pro season, as the Bengals elected to let him sit behind starter Jon Kitna.

Quotes of the Day

“Numbers are what they are. We’ve run it a bunch. We’ve run it effectively. I’m not concerned at all. I never put stock in running game numbers. It’s points, it’s first downs, it’s third-down conversions, red-zone conversions. You run the ball 30 times for 200 yards, you don’t get a damn point for it.” – Coach Bruce Arians on the team’s apparent struggles in the running game

“It’s great. I think it goes a long way with my teammates, too, and definitely with my coaches, that I was able to participate in training camp somewhat and just get out there with the rest of the guys.” – Safety Tyrann Mathieu on what it meant to return to action

“Most teams are glad that we’ve got problems and they sure don’t care, so that’s the league. Hopefully we got our bad injuries out of the way and we can go the long haul injury-free.” – Linebacker Larry Foote on the team’s defensive losses

“It was never any doubt because I knew I could play and people around me knew I could play. It’s just that I struggled with getting the playbook down last year and things like that. I was a little bit lazy and things. This year, I just changed, changed everything, my whole approach to the game. And it worked out for me.” – Right tackle Bobby Massie on having enough confidence to earn a starting job after losing it during training camp last season

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