Cards counting on healthy Bradford, never a sure thing
GLENDALE, ARIZ. » If he stays healthy. Those words have shadowed Sam Bradford through most of his injury-plagued eight seasons in the NFL. And it looms large again as the 30-year-old quarterback went through the first practice of Arizona Cardinals training camp Saturday.
“I think you have to be optimistic,” he said. “I think if you’re not optimistic, then the odds of staying healthy and the odds of playing well, they’re probably not that great.”
Injuries have limited Bradford to 80 games in his eight seasons. He’s twice torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, and another left knee injury wiped out nearly all of his 2017 season in Minnesota.
When the Cardinals found themselves without any quarterbacks following the retirement of Carson Palmer, they turned to Bradford, who — when healthy — has put up strong numbers.
But Arizona also pulled off a deal that got them Josh Rosen in the draft, and Rosen has been impressive in offseason workouts. But for now, this is Bradford’s team.
“I want Josh with the mentality that he wants to start,” first-year Cardinals coach Steve Wilks said. “I don’t waver that Sam is our starter. It’s his job to lose and competition makes us better across the board.”
The Cardinals brought Bradford along slowly in the offseason and didn’t make him a full participant in workouts until the threeday mandatory minicamp.
“His knee, talking to him, is stronger than it’s ever been,” Wilks said. “I think the plan that we created and put in place for him back when we signed him has been phenomenal, just with the training staff, physical therapy, strength and conditioning.”
Bradford would say only that his knee feels the best it has since the injury.
“I feel good right now,” he said. “My body’s’ in a good place and I think now we’ll see the benefits of the plan we had throughout OTAs and throughout the spring.”