TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals open 2022 NFL training camp Wednesday at State Farm Stadium. Here's a closer look at a few storylines:
The biggest question: How will the Cardinals handle DeAndre Hopkins during training camp? Coach Kliff Kingsbury has said Hopkins will be on a limited schedule during training camp as he works back from a MCL injury that ended his 2021 season prematurely in Week 14. Hopkins is also suspended the first six weeks of the season after violating the NFL's performance enhancing drug policy. So how much will the Cardinals actually work Hopkins into the rotation during training camp and the preseason? The Cardinals' offense is significantly different without Hopkins. For example, without him on the field last season, 56% of Arizona's passing yards were after the catch compared to 44% with him, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Can Arizona afford to give him precious reps during camp when the Cardinals need to prepare an offense to play without him? Can they afford not to give him reps if he can't practice with the team until Week 7?
The player with the most to prove: That's undoubtedly wide receiver Andy Isabella. The second-round pick from the 2019 draft played just 52 snaps in eight games last season, hardly making an impact for the Cardinals with just one catch for 13 yards and one return for 31 yards. He has the fewest snaps among receivers who were drafted in 2019 who've played at least 30 games. With the addition of Brown this offseason and the emergence of Rondale Moore as a speed threat, the need for Isabella is waning. He'll need to blow the socks off Kingsbury and general manager Steve Keim this camp to find a place in the Cardinals' offense. Kingsbury loves speed, which will help Isabella, but he'll need to be close to perfect during training camp to make the team.
Training camp is a success if: The Cardinals, come January, can say they actually got rid of their second-half mistakes. After starting the season 7-0 last season, the Cardinals limped into the playoffs at 11-6 and were dismantled by the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round. This is the time for all of those mistakes, issues and problems to get fixed. If Arizona can't overcome its second-half issues this season, Kingsbury -- despite signing an extension this offseason -- could be in trouble.
Most impactful offseason addition: There's no doubt it's receiver Marquise Brown. He doesn't just give the Cardinals the help they'll need while Hopkins is suspended, he gives them one of the best young receivers in football. If the Cardinals don't bottom out in the second half of the season like they have the past two years, then the offense has a chance to be something special because of all the talent. But those are just words on paper. The last two years proved that it may not matter who's on the field for Arizona come the final weeks of the season.
Camp prediction: Kyler Murray shows up to camp with a new leadership mentality and puts the Cardinals on his shoulders. Some of Kingsbury's final words before the summer break were about his concern that Murray may not be at camp Day 1 because of a contract squabble. If Murray does get the new deal, he'll show up as a quarterback possessed to prove he's worth the money. He still isn't used to losing and he finally has the teammate he's wanted since 2018 in Brown. Murray will feel empowered with his new deal and will start to show his leadership on the field and throughout the organization.