Jose Romero 6y

David Johnson, Sam Bradford on the field to open Steve Wilks era

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The first time out on the field with the guys was special for new head coach Steve Wilks.

The Arizona Cardinals held their first team practice of the offseason, and first with Wilks under sunny skies on Tuesday. It was the first of a three-day voluntary minicamp at team headquarters.

"To be in this role at this very moment in time, yes it was," Wilks said, sweat dripping from his brow having just come from practice.

Tuesday was the day to take what the coaches have been teaching the players in meetings out onto the field.

"We're not going to win the division off one practice, but we want to take a step in that direction," Wilks said. "That's the most important thing, really emphasizing the fundamentals and technique of the game, and the details."

Wilks and his staff have thrown a lot of new terminology and information at the players, and he said they are doing well at picking up the verbiage.

He's also learning about each player, with the focus to get all of them to buy into the philosophy, "which they are," Wilks said.

There was already a different routine to practice. Players stretched as a team, and music played in the background.

Wilks was familiar with Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise," but not the country song that came next.

"I heard the music, but sometimes when you start listening to it, it's like 'What are they listening to?'" Wilks said. "I just listen to the beat and try to stay in rhythm."

Cardinals star running back David Johnson was on the field, working his way back from a wrist injury in Week 1.

"I told him it was great to see him in the huddle," wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said of Johnson. "I know our offense and what we're capable of doing with him is going to be special. I need him out there so I can get some more open looks. He's so dynamic."

Eleven-time Pro Bowler Fitzgerald was also there, ready to begin his 15th NFL season after a few weeks of considering retirement.

And new quarterback Sam Bradford also took part, though the 20-minute media window to watch practice did not afford the opportunity to see him do anything with a ball. He is coming off of a knee injury that kept him out of all but two games for the Minnesota Vikings last season.

"We're going to continue to do the same thing with Sam and make sure that he's ready for 16-plus games," Wilks said. "He did some things during walk-through that I thought looked pretty good."

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