When the Arizona Cardinals reported to training camp on Wednesday, July 22, it still felt as if their season opener existed in a different orbit. Fifty-two days, after all, separated the Cardinals’ first practice from their Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
That’s a lot of time, and it’s a crucial period for new head coach Mike LaFleur to build the foundation for what he hopes will be the next winning generation of Cardinals football. So, what do the next seven weeks actually include? Here is an overview of the schedule and what the Cardinals will aim to accomplish.
Training camp
The Cardinals arrived at training camp on Wednesday, with their first practice session one day later. That began nearly three weeks of practices at State Farm Stadium, eight of which are open to the public.
This is perhaps the most important stretch of the offseason for LaFleur and his staff. The Cardinals installed their new offense — as well as some tweaks to Nick Rallis’ defense — during spring practices, but training camp is the first opportunity to run those plays at full speed, with pads on.
It’s when they’ll learn what works and what doesn’t. It’s when they’ll be able to practice new techniques at something resembling game speed. And it’s when players will stake a claim to starting jobs and roster spots.
Training camp at State Farm Stadium will conclude on Aug. 11, with the final public session being the Red and White practice on Aug. 9.
After a trip to Las Vegas to face the Raiders on Aug. 13, the Cardinals will move operations to their Tempe training facility.
Because they play in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6, the Cardinals were permitted to start training camp a week earlier than most teams. There was minimal advantage over the rest of their division, though, as each of their three NFC West foes also had exemptions to start training camp early due to their Week 1 schedules.
Preseason
The Cardinals’ preseason schedule:
- Aug. 6: Cardinals vs. Panthers, Canton, Ohio
- Aug. 13: Cardinals at Raiders, Las Vegas
- Aug. 22: Cowboys at Cardinals, Glendale
- Aug. 28: Cardinals at Packers, Green Bay, Wisconsin
It remains to be seen to what extent the Cardinals will play their starters in preseason games.
LaFleur arrives in Arizona after three seasons with the Rams, who almost never play important players during the preseason. But the Rams are an annual Super Bowl contender filled with veterans, for whom health is paramount. The Cardinals might take a different approach as they prioritize player development.
The Hall of Fame Game typically features players vying for roster spots, while the preseason finale in Green Bay comes two days after a joint practice. That means the Raiders and Cowboys games are the most likely opportunities for LaFleur to test his starters in game situations. Each game, though, is crucial for players on the roster bubble.
Joint practice
The Cardinals are set to hold one joint practice this summer, facing off against the Packers in Green Bay on Aug. 26.
These sessions have become increasingly popular in recent years. Coaches view them as an opportunity for key players to get full-speed reps, with a reduced injury risk compared with the less controlled setting of a preseason game.
As such, they’re also an opportunity to learn about the Cardinals’ capabilities. Last year, Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. struggled in a joint practice with the Broncos, the defense gave up repeated explosive plays in the passing game and Trey McBride dominated the session.
All of those issues proved to be harbingers for the season.
This year’s joint practice should be especially fun, as it pits Mike LaFleur against brother Matt LaFleur, the Packers’ head coach. Plus, former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is now the defensive coordinator in Green Bay.
Cut day
The NFL moved its cut day forward this season, meaning teams must now trim their rosters to 53 players by Sunday, Aug. 30 — two days after the Cardinals’ preseason finale.
In addition to the requisite cuts, that day also typically features a flurry of minor trades, as teams find new homes for players who could otherwise be released. The ensuing days, meanwhile, can be an opportunity for rebuilding teams — such as the Cardinals — to claim players who narrowly missed out on roster spots elsewhere.
By the end of that week, the Cardinals’ Week 1 roster should reach its final form. The team will then take Labor Day weekend off as one final reprieve before returning to practice on Monday, Sept. 7, ahead of the season opener six days later in Los Angeles.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals’ busy summer has more preseason games and a joint practice
