PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Cardinals still have a lot to work on in final week of training camp

The Cardinals begin their final week of training camp on Monday and will use it as a trial run for the regular season, according to quarterback Carson Palmer.

“We will prepare for the Falcons all week long and practice against the Falcons with our scout teams,” Palmer said after the 24-23 loss to the Bears Saturday night. “It is finally time to get into football mode.”

The Cardinals starters didn’t look in football mode through much of the first half against the Bears. They gave up 75 yards rushing in the first quarter, and the offense sputtered, producing little in five possessions in the first half.

The performance wasn’t all bad. Safety Tyrann Mathieu had an interception. Safety Tyvon Branch had five tackles and was a force against the run. Defensive tackles Frostee Rucker and Robert Nkemdiche made impactful plays.

Offensively, two of the Cardinals’ best players, running back David Johnson and receiver Larry Fitzgerald, didn’t play even a full series. Kerwynn Williams looks comfortable returning punts.

Overall, however, there was more bad than good, and questions about this team linger.

Here are five of them:

1. Is missing practice time affecting Palmer?

He completed 9 of 14 for 67 yards and a touchdown. That’s not awful production, but as coach Bruce Arians noted after the game, Palmer wasn’t as sharp as usual.

He looked a bit antsy in the pocket at times and could have bought himself more time by sliding up and around to avoid pressure.