Kliff Kingsbury finally got to get his players on the field Tuesday, as the Cardinals had their first practice under their new head coach.
The voluntary veteran minicamp – which will feature practices Wednesday and Thursday as well – is the extra work allowed all first-year head coaches, and Kingsbury said not surprisingly he was satisfied how the initial installation of his system progressed.
"I liked how it looked today," Kingsbury said.
Additions like linebacker Terrell Suggs, linebacker Jordan Hicks and cornerback Robert Alford got in their first work with their new team. But it wasn't a run-of-the-mill first practice, simply because a couple of storylines swirling around the team.
One cropped up after cornerback Patrick Peterson posted some cryptic social media offerings, and then was not at the workout. That in itself wasn't a big deal – the minicamp is voluntary, and Kingsbury said Peterson had already let the Cards know he wouldn't be attending – and Kingsbury emphasized Peterson remains happy to be part of the team.
"We know Patrick wants to be here," Kingsbury said.
The other story was second-year quarterback Josh Rosen's return to the field with ongoing questions about how the Cardinals will use the No. 1 overall draft pick Thursday.
Kingsbury declined to get into draft conversations again, saying he'd let what he and GM Steve Keim said in last week's pre-draft press conference stand. But when asked whether plans for the top pick were solidified, Kingsbury said not yet.
"We're still working through it," Kingsbury said. "I wouldn't say the hay is in the barn."
Rosen, Kingsbury added, has done "everything humanly possible to show what type of quarterback he is, what type of competitor he is."
"I've said it all along, I couldn't be more impressed with his approach," Kingsbury said. "He's a top 10 pick for a reason. You see it (on the field)."
Kingsbury likes the idea of being able to get the players on video, which will allow the coaches to break down individual's games and create teaching points for the classroom. That's the most important part of the week.
But Kingsbury also spent time teaching the quarterbacks and Rosen. Kingsbury said he didn't have to address the team about the speculation around the draft, including potentially taking quarterback Kyler Murray. The conversations he's had with Rosen on the subject remain private, he said.
"I'm going to keep going back to the way (Josh) has handled it and his professionalism, and the way he's led," Kingsbury said. "The way he's done everything we've asked of him. That's the sign of a true pro."
The Cardinals return to the field with the first day of voluntary veterans minicamp under new coach Kliff Kingsbury.
![LBs Terrell Suggs, Chandler Jones and Pete Robertson.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/hvshqlh6zgmk3iclanfc.jpg)
LBs Terrell Suggs, Chandler Jones and Pete Robertson.
![Coach Kliff Kingsbury talks to RB David Johnson.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/gn2hnkwddjb9pwtjhrwa.jpg)
Coach Kliff Kingsbury talks to RB David Johnson.
![S Budda Baker](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/kjkf7tcimwsxgzps8aza.jpg)
S Budda Baker
![Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/fvkreddbjterh9zg1kij.jpg)
Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph
![G Justin Pugh](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/r8ipq3hepwwl9uo2huh1.jpg)
G Justin Pugh
![DE Darius Philon](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/pq68ejicuucfyjbqzv4n.jpg)
DE Darius Philon
![LB Terrell Suggs](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/kpbrnubp7j4030n7z1mb.jpg)
LB Terrell Suggs
![WR Christian Kirk and RB D.J. Foster.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/wpaa1cvc0oei9i6jceca.jpg)
WR Christian Kirk and RB D.J. Foster.
![QBs Brett Hundley, Charles Kanoff and Josh Rosen.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/xpn7fjbktoy4mermig08.jpg)
QBs Brett Hundley, Charles Kanoff and Josh Rosen.
![Offensive line coach Sean Kugler](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/fdo36uscxlznj07fg9b4.jpg)
Offensive line coach Sean Kugler
![WR Larry Fitzgerald makes a one-handed catch.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/hcz8webvvlxvatslfqy8.jpg)
WR Larry Fitzgerald makes a one-handed catch.
![Coach Kliff Kingsbury](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/nbrv0pj0xrhlwkgzacbc.jpg)
Coach Kliff Kingsbury
![WR Larry Fitzgerald](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/xqb7t3yalna1skjedstw.jpg)
WR Larry Fitzgerald
![Kliff Kingsbury coaches up QB Josh Rosen.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/z7qswq7ggqnspvzv6rud.jpg)
Kliff Kingsbury coaches up QB Josh Rosen.
![Offensive linemen Marcus Gilbert and Colby Gossett.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/ibjlkj84yxclcwxfe7vi.jpg)
Offensive linemen Marcus Gilbert and Colby Gossett.
![LBs Vontarrius Dora and Chandler Jones.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/ljiklv4soh0dn49wbjt7.jpg)
LBs Vontarrius Dora and Chandler Jones.
![QB Josh Rosen throws a pass to WR Larry Fitzgerald.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/p3zgmglnf4nehzl2bwf7.jpg)
QB Josh Rosen throws a pass to WR Larry Fitzgerald.
![QB Brett Hundley](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/ezqlpuycqel1klsjcs9g.jpg)
QB Brett Hundley
![WR Pharoh Cooper](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/otmlnyjiosyb1yzvabzb.jpg)
WR Pharoh Cooper
![LB Pete Robertson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/remoo94kxmew4ocfd8nw.jpg)
LB Pete Robertson
![RB David Johnson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/nuiravjpumatx80ydfbq.jpg)
RB David Johnson
![CB Robert Alford](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/fmcifw2vx0qf8yypnpiv.jpg)
CB Robert Alford
![GM Steve Keim and scout Adrian Wilson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/afxti7r18u0xdgyimavc.jpg)
GM Steve Keim and scout Adrian Wilson
![LB Jordan Hicks](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/zq9eide7gjdba5dwdl3e.jpg)
LB Jordan Hicks
![LB Brooks Reed](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/ao8yihwcxe1bi3sldieo.jpg)
LB Brooks Reed
![Kliff Kingsbury coaches QB Josh Rosen](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/y7swizj2yc83ckye2ytu.jpg)
Kliff Kingsbury coaches QB Josh Rosen
![TE Charles Clay](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/vgrxen0slvkdpujgkcle.jpg)
TE Charles Clay