A few notes and thoughts after the first padded practice of training camp:

-- Everybody knew Chandler Jones was a good player. But until he put the pads on, you couldn't really tell. Sunday, you could tell. Jones was making plays everywhere, impressing against both the run and pass. He got the better of guard Evan Mathis on one early play and he often found his way into the backfield. Contrasting that with the rough start Jonathan Cooper has had in New England and that trade looks very, very good at this point.

-- A good chunk of the Cardinals' football side, from scouts to personnel people, were zeroing in on one player Sunday: right tackle D.J. Humphries. Makes sense, with the pads going on. Humphries was as you'd expect, a little up and down, but I thought he was fine for his first day. More importantly, he had the backing of his quarterback, Carson Palmer.

"I don't like to let people into family business as far as what type of conversations I have with teammates, but our quarterback made me feel very confident today," Humphries said. "It lifted my spirits and made me want to keep working. ... It was very important to me. Gave me chills on the field."

Humphries said it makes a difference being able to play in pads. He'll get plenty of work in them.

-- Wide receiver Smokey Brown and Mathis both left practice early. Not sure what their issues were, although Brown was shaken up after colliding with cornerback Patrick Peterson on a play. Bruce Arians only talks at lunch so we'll have an update then.

-- As you can see by the photo, Robert Nkemdiche may not be able to practice, but he can carry the veterans' equipment.