Defensive lineman Calais Campbell is back with the Arizona Cardinals for his 18th NFL season. He spent his first nine with the team and, after leaving in free agency in 2017, he returns after eight years. He is now almost 39 years old (he will turn 39 six days before the team’s season opener), so preparing for the season is a little different.
While some younger players have come on noticeably bigger and stronger, Campbell knows what he needs to do.
Where is he physically right now?
“I’m where I’m supposed to be,” he said, making sure to add, “I’m not ready to play a game, that’s for sure.”
He took it easy in the offseason. He was not at most of OTAs, which were voluntary. He didn’t do much in minicamp.
“Coach (Jonathan Gannon), he gave me lot of grace and was just like, come around, be around the guys, a little bit of movement, but I didn’t do too much,” he said.
That won’t be the approach next month when training camp begins.
“Come training camp, I’m ready to go, and I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be. The experience is a great thing, but the experience tells me I can feel where I’m at and where I should be. I know exactly where I need to be.
“Right now I’m right on par.”
The Cardinals will report for training camp on July 22.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Calais Campbell had light load in offseason, will be ready for camp