CAMPING OUT

Coach Kliff Kingsbury hasn’t determined how much his starters, especially some of his veteran players such as WR Larry Fitzgerald, OLB Terrell Suggs, DT Corey Peters and CB Patrick Peterson, will play in the preseason. The Cardinals' first preseason game is just a week away however, and those decisions will have to be made. “Next week we’ll really get into it,” Kingsbury said. “Guys like Fitz and some of those guys want to play and get that work and we understand that. We’ll finalize those things once we get to game week. If we feel like he needs to play and wants to play, we’ll kind of cross that path when we get there." … Backup quarterback Brett Hundley drew praise from Kingsbury on Wednesday. “The decision making is getting quicker and quicker and that’s what we want to do, is approach every rep he’s getting like a game,” the coach said. “I thought (Tuesday) he had made some good throws and played with a sense of urgency and that’s what we’ve asked him to do. Hopefully, that continues.” … Another player getting a shout out was rookie safety Jalen Thompson, whom the team picked up recently in the supplemental draft. “We really like, as a staff, that way he’s just jumped in and been really competitive,” Kingsbury said. “Has some really nice physical traits, has flipped his hips and made some nice plays on footballs and super competitive.” … The team will practice outside Friday on the fields just south of State Farm Stadium. The workout will be closed to the public.

S D.J Swearinger (soft tissue injury), DT Vincent Valentine (leg/knee) as well as the three players still on the physically unable to perform list (TE Charles Clay, G Max Garcia, CB Brandon Williams) are all getting closer to returning, according to Kingsbury. “As we get into the preseason games, I would expect them to start getting back into practice,” the coach said. WR Chad Williams is dealing with a lower-body injury, Kingsbury said, and hasn’t been able to do much lately in camp.

“That was more of a scuffle, I think. Two guys just being competitive, going at each other every day, so that wasn’t really much. The Major League Baseball fight (between the Reds and Pirates), did ya’ll see that one? That’s how you get it done right there. Take on the whole team.” — Kingsbury on the dust up in practice Tuesday between cornerback Robert Alford and wide receiver Damiere Byrd.

The team practices Thursday at State Farm Stadium from 10:50 am. to 12:50 p.m. Gates open 30 minutes prior to the start of practice. Practice times are subject to change.

– Bob McManaman