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More than anything this year, health is the key to the Arizona Cardinals season. They have shown that they are good enough, but they are not quite deep enough to lose too many key components.
When pads and the hitting truly starts, you expect a few players to be nicked up, you just hope it will not be anyone major.
After the first padded practice though, two players who should be key factors for the Arizona Cardinals were missing.
The extent of their ailments and exactly what is wrong will not be known til tomorrow, so make sure you are checking out Revenge of the Birds for the latest updates, but John Brown and Evan Mathis both left camp before it ended today.
The rest of the news from day one of pads and day three of training camp.
Chandler Jones Looks Ready
No player will be under more pressure to succeed than Chandler Jones. The Arizona Cardinals gave up a second round pick for the pass rusher and he and the Arizona Cardinals both know that the next step is even more expensive. Jones is thought to be the missing piece from the Arizona Cardinals defense, and on day one of pads, he seemed to be up to the task.
He had glowing reviews from day one of pads and seems to be firing up an already extremely talented defense.
The Defensive Line Will Be Great... If Healthy
The key there is the health part, but having Rodney Gunter in a more attacking role, adding in Robert Nkemdiche and returning Frostee Rucker will give the Cardinals defensive line a bevy of weapons to choose from (did I mention Calais Campbell) when it comes to attacking the passing game of the opposition.
The Offense Is Already Great
While it has some rust, the big plays are already happening at camp. The key for the offense will be... Health.
Patrick Peterson Is Ready
The Arizona Cardinals know the importance of Patrick Peterson, maybe the best corner in the NFL. So they are giving him plenty of rest during camp, because they know he'll be prepared come game one of the season. It also will give the Arizona Cardinals other corners the chance to compete against one of the best receiving units in the NFL.
Here's to nothing major being wrong with Brown and Mathis.