Arizona Cardinals receiver A.J. Green is entering his 12th season in the league and his second full season with Arizona.
Entering his second year with the Cardinals, Green will look to lead a receiving core that will be without DeAndre Hopkins for the first six games of the season due to the Pro Bowler violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.
Green took a heaping amount of criticism following Week 8 last season, when on the last drive of the fourth quarter, his failure to turn and reel in a Kyler Murray pass led the Green Bay Packers to come down with the game-sealing interception in the end zone.
AJ Green never looked for the ball, but it was still an insane interception by Rasul Douglas to clinch the game for the Packers.pic.twitter.com/6FhJmoHc6X
— The Big Lead (@TheBigLead) October 29, 2021
Green is feeling much more adept with the offense this year.
“It’s night and day from last year. I’m more comfortable in the offense,” Green told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke on Thursday after OTAs.
Green credited the Cardinals for allowing him to play to his strengths, which played a part in him returning to the team after signing a one-year deal to play with Arizona in 2021 and then dipping back into free agency again.
“They know what I can do, and they use me the right way,” Green said.
“I feel like this is the best place to build my legacy for my career.”
During his prime, Green was considered one of the best receivers in the league. Despite finishing his first year in Arizona with 848 yards and three touchdowns, Green feels he has a great deal of room to improve.
“As you get older you have to change your game. For me it’s better route running and being more patient,” Green said.
“I left 1,000 yards on the field. I feel like the first half of the season I played well and the second half coming back from COVID hurt me from a fatigue factor. I wasn’t as sharp and didn’t have the same attention to detail.”