The Cardinals got their first training camp practice of 2026 underway Thursday at State Farm Stadium, with the opening session giving the team a light runway back into football. Arizona was one of the first two teams to report, alongside the Carolina Panthers, who the Cardinals will face in the Hall of Fame Game on August 6.
For the media, the first 20 minutes of practice were open, and that window mostly featured stretching, individual work and a little special teams. Friday should bring a fuller look, with the Cardinals opening practice to fans.
LaFleur said the team will be careful with Arizona’s injured players as they work back into action.
"It's awesome, and we'll be smart with those guys because they haven't played football in quite some time," LaFleur said on the return of Arizona's injured players.
"... But it's good to be back.
And this is what these guys love to do, right? They love to play football.
So for them to be out there participating, doing their thing, it's pretty cool."
One of the more memorable moments of the day came from starting center Hjalte Froholdt, who revisited his offseason idea of adding boulders to his yard for lifting.
"I didn't get a chance on the boulders yet. That's still in the plans. ...
I don't know. I assume you can just go out and find one, but I don't know what the legalities of that is.
So I might have to find a mason to like - I don't know if you're just allowed to take rocks? I don't know whose property those rocks are.
Could be mine? Just head up to Sedona and get some historic rock.
That'd be cool in the back in the gym. But I don't know.
We'll see. I'm still in the plans of something.
We don't have room enough for it yet. Wifey doesn't really like it taking up all that room, and the kids - it's a health hazard.
So, right now we're taking a stand on that. So hopefully soon."
In Other News...
Cardinals QB Battle Just Took A Sudden Turn Around Brissett
The Cardinals quarterback competition has already taken a sharp early-season turn, and it came on the second day of training camp when Jacoby Brissett was not part of the 11-on-11 work. Gardner Minshew, Carson Beck and Kedon Slovis handled those reps instead, a setup that underscored how quickly the camp order can shift when a veteran is still trying to get comfortable in a new offense.
Mike LaFleur said there is no timeline for Brissett to catch up, which leaves Arizona with a real early sorting-out period at the most important spot on the field. The camp picture is already a little uneven beyond quarterback, with Paris Johnson and Josh Sweat starting on the physically unable to perform list and the organization also dealing with the indefinite suspension of personnel executive Ryan Gold under the NFLs gambling policy. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Just Lost Another Young D Lineman Before He Could Matter
Kaleb Proctors first NFL season is already on ice, another frustrating hit for a Cardinals rookie class that has been hit hard by lower-body injuries before it ever got rolling. The defensive lineman was placed on injured reserve, and Arizona is choosing to play it safe rather than try to squeeze any late-season value out of a player it wanted to develop into part of the rotation.
For a front that was counting on young depth to matter, the loss stings because it narrows the margin even more on the interior. The Cardinals will have to keep sorting through the rest of their defensive line group to absorb the snap load, but Proctors absence leaves one more unanswered question about how much of this rookie class will actually get a chance to contribute when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Mike LaFleur Just Drew A Line Around Cardinals Pick
The Cardinals decision to take Jeremiyah Love third overall in the 2026 NFL draft was always going to invite debate, especially for a rebuilding team spending such a premium pick on a running back. But Mike LaFleur has been quick to frame the move around more than positional value, pointing to Loves maturity, his willingness to learn and the kind of presence he has already brought into the locker room.
LaFleur has also made clear that Arizona believes Loves background matters as much as his talent, praising the foundation that shaped him and the way he carries himself around veterans. For a team trying to change its culture as much as its roster, that kind of endorsement is part of the pitch, even if the outside criticism around the pick is not going away anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]