This offseason has been unfamiliar territory for Cardinals all-pro corner back Patrick Peterson.
After the 2015 season came to an end, Peterson was forced to have surgery to repair an ankle that nagged him down the stretch of the year. Instead of allowing the nagging to continue in 2016, he opted to get it out of the way now.
The result? Peterson was forced to sit off to the side during OTA’s but with the start of mini-camp this week, he was able to compete in individual drills with his teammates.
“The ankle wasn’t an issue,” said Peterson Tuesday. “It’s not sore or anything right now. It’s always good to be able to put the helmet back on especially since it’s been six months since I strapped the helmet up.”
“Trainers did a good job of handcuffing me because I was definitely on them each and every day ‘lets get out there and do something,’ because I’m not used to this,” he explained. “This is probably the first time I’ve missed practice since I’ve been in the NFL so this is definitely something new to me but at the same time, these guys want to make I’m healthy for the long haul and healthy when it counts.”
His ability to stay healthy has definitely what has helped make Peterson one of the league’s top corners in addition to his talent and athleticism. Which is more the reason for the trainers to “handcuff” him being someone who is eager to compete and may not understand the full process in recovering from a surgery and an important surgery at that. One that involves a part of the body that Peterson explains is an integral part of the position he plays.
“When you have ankle surgery and my job as a corner is based on cutting and explosiveness and things like that, you want to make sure that you are comfortable,” Peterson stated. “The goal was to get out there, do some individuals in mini-camp and goal accomplished.”
Bruce Arians said after practice that Peterson looked good on the first day of mini-camp and could probably be as good as 100% by next week when camp is over for the summer. Peterson echoed those comments on where he thinks he will be when that day comes.
“Once training camp comes around I will be 100%,” he stated. “I just want to go out there and have the confidence that I could do the things I was able to do before [before the end of mini-camp].”
