Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Check out the pictures from the Cardinals’ only on-field practice during mandatory minicamp.
The Arizona Cardinals wrapped up their offseason program this week with only one day of practice. It was the last time they would take the field until training camp.
Part of Tuesday’s final practice was open to the media and we have some photos from it.
Check out the last images of the offseason for the Cardinals.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
The Cardinals will only have one on-field practice instead of three during mandatory minicamp.
The Arizona Cardinals will see their offseason program come to a close next week. They have the only mandatory part of the program next week — minicamp from June 11-13.
However, head coach Jonathan Gannon is rewarding his players for a strong offseason of work.
They will only hold one on-field practice. Teams are permitted to have three in minicamp.
That one practice will be on Tuesday, June 11.
Whether they will take advantage of all three days for meetings, classroom work and walkthroughs is yet to be seen.
The Cardinals had great participation in the voluntary part of the offseason and no distractions with trade requests or contract holdouts.
Following minicamp, rookies will likely still have a couple of weeks of work at the team facility and then players will be off until reporting for training camp in late July.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
Nick Rallis says he would be comfortable with any of his young OLBs starting.
The Arizona Cardinals have a pretty inexperienced group of outside linebackers. However, it would appear they are good with the players they have.
Defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, as a good DC would say, is happy with the group so far.
“It’s a great competition,” he said on Thursday. “I feel great about the depth. There’s a lot of guys in that room that if we had to go out and start with them, I’d feel great going into that game.”
That depth is mostly untested.
Right now, the starters are Zaven Collins and Dennis Gardeck. Collins is playing the position for the first time full time, having played off the ball for his first two seasons in the league.
Gardeck has been in the league since 2018 but has only played 476 defensive snaps in five seasons, compared to more than 1,600 on special teams.
Cameron Thomas and Myjai Sanders enter their second season after being drafted in the third round in 2022. Jesse Luketa is in his second season. BJ Ojulari is a rookie second rounder.
Victor Dimukeje enters his third season.
David Anenih has yet to play in an NFL game.
There is certainly nice potential among most of them.
Rallis would never say that he is concerned about the depth. That said, between Collis, Thomas, Sanders and Ojulari, the Cardinals should have a very nice, young, high upside group of edge defenders.
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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
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Teaming up with United Way, the Cardinals filled 1,000 hygiene kits to benefit families affected by domestic violence.
The Arizona Cardinals held their final day of mandatory minicamp on Thursday, wrapping up four days of the only mandatory part of the offseason program.
While they surely has some classroom work and meetings, they finished with some community work.
Cardinals players and coaches teamed up to fill 1,000 hygiene kits for the UMOM New Day Center in Phoenix to benefit families that have been affected by domestic violence.
The United Way donated the kits, which include hand cream, washcloths, cooling towels, soap, hand wipes, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a comb and lip balm.
Players added handwritten notes of encouragement as well.
The Cardinals’ rookie class will deliver them next week.
Founded in 1964, UMOM is an innovative provider of shelter, housing and services for people experiencing homelessness. Every night they provide safe shelter and supportive services for nearly 700 individuals experiencing homelessness – 155 families and 130 single women. They also offer over 550 units of affordable housing across the Valley.
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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
The Cardinals wrapped up on-field work for the offseason program on Wednesday. Here are the last photos we will have until training camp.
The Arizona Cardinals were on the field to practice for the last time before training camp on Wednesday. Mandatory minicamp goes through Thursday but not with full practices. The last one was Wednesday.
Safety Budda Baker was on the field but didn’t practice.
Many did practice though.
We have some photos from that final practice. No more are coming until they start training camp at State Farm Stadium at the end of July.
Enjoy them!
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
We have some photos from the first of two practices for the Arizona Cardinals during mandatory minicamp.
The Arizona Cardinals held two practices for mandatory minicamp, closing the offseason program for veterans.
Below are a few photos from Tuesday’s practice.
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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
The Cardinals announced the release of offensive lineman Julien Davenport and safety Josh Thomas. Thomas appeared in two games last season.
The Arizona Cardinals announced a pair of roster moves before they took the field on Wednesday for their final practice of mandatory minicamp. They released offensive lineman Julien Davenport and safety Josh Thomas.
They did not announce any corresponding moves, so we can expect a pair of roster additions at some point.
Davenport was signed to the practice squad last November and then was re-signed to a futures deal after the season was over.
Thomas was signed to the practice squad last September and elevated to the active roster twice at the end of the year. He played 14 defensive snaps and 19 special teams snaps, collecting four total tackles.
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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
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Simmons tells reporters he will be working with defensive backs moving forward.
Isaiah Simmons, the Arizona Cardinals’ first-round pick in 2020, has been listed at linebacker since he entered the league. This offseason, he has been seen working with defensive backs.
That won’t be changing. It would appear that Simmons is becoming a full-time safety.
When he spoke with the reporters after Tuesday’s practice at mandatory minicamp. he said he has been working with defensive backs and added, “moving forward, I’ll be with the defensive backs.”
While he is still listed as an inside linebacker on the roster on the official team site, the graphic that showed introducing Simmons in the video of his press conference said he is a safety.
In the #AZCardinals press conference after practice with Isaiah Simmons, the team put a graphic up saying Isaiah Simmons, safety.
He is still an ILB on the roster, but I guess that will be changing. pic.twitter.com/VMsZWtLC8H
— Jess Root (@senorjessroot) June 14, 2023
That doesn’t mean he won’t be doing many of the same things as previous years. He can play in the box, cover tight ends and receivers in the slot and can play the back half.
With another pair of very good safeties in Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson, it will be interesting to see how the Cardinals use all three players.
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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
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Baker, who wants a contract extension, is apparently “holding in” at mandatory minicamp.
The Arizona Cardinals took the field on Tuesday for the first of two full practices during mandatory minicamp. While safety Budda Baker, who had been away during the voluntary part of the offseason program, reported on Monday, per multiple reporters present at the open part of practice, Baker was not on the field practicing.
Baker, who requested a trade this offseason when his request for contract extension was denied.
He said he would be in attendance for the mandatory part of the offseason, but it appears that he is “holding in,” Rather than a holdout, not showing up, he is there for meetings but is not practicing.
The lines of communication have remained open between Baker’s representation and general manager Monti Ossenfort.
By showing up, Baker avoids fines but still has not gotten offseason reps with the team in its new defense.
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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
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Smith is the fifth receiver the Cardinals have added in the offseason taller than six feet.
The Arizona Cardinals announced a roster move ahead of their week of mandatory minicamp. They signed former XFL receiver Brandon Smith and released receiver Auden Tate.
Smith worked out with the team last week.
Smith spent the last two seasons on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad and played for the D.C. Defenders in the XFL recently.
He appeared in four games, catching eight passes (two in each game) for 118 yards and a touchdown.
Smith is 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds and played collegiately for Iowa.
He gives the Cardinals another receiver with some size. He is the fifth receiver they have added this offseason taller than six feet.
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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
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