NFC Notes: Cardinals, 49ers, Rams, Seahawks

Cardinals

• Per Katherine Fitzgerald of the Arizona Republic, Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins returned to practice Wednesday. He had been sitting out with a hamstring injury.  
• Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury thinks the team is in good shape with RB Chase Edmonds as the primary backup: “We all feel like he’s starting running back in this league.” (Kyle Odegard)

49ers

49ers RT Mike McGlinchey believes he has become a “stronger football player” this offseason after working with the organization’s training staff. 

“I was here working with our staff, and I’m really, really proud of the things we did and the basics that we put back into my training that are going to allow me to be a much more functional athlete and stronger football player,” McGlinchey said, via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports. 

McGlinchey feels he improved last season and is hopeful to regain his prior form from late in 2019. 

“The player I was in the back half of last season is a completely different player from the one that started it,” McGlinchey said. “And the whole goal for me is to continue to build on that and build on the success I had, both run and pass, and the just the overall consistency and domination of the blocks I had.”

Regarding the time he missed last year after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, McGlinchey said he used his off-time to study himself on film. 

“The four weeks I had off in the middle of the season last year really allowed me to focus on myself and how I was moving, how I was studying the game, how I was studying the nuances of our offense and how to apply them to what we do,” McGlinchey said.

• The Athletic’s Matt Barrows says 49ers WR Dante Pettis has shown more urgency this year and is also taking reps as a punt returner. 
• Barrows notes 49ers DL Solomon Thomas is up to 280 pounds and DL Kentavius Street looks a lot healthier than when he was trying to come back from an ACL injury last year. 
• Barrows thinks the injury to Jalen Hurd helps the chances for 49ers seventh-round WR Jauan Jennings to make the team. 
• At linebacker, Barrows sees Azeez Al-Shaair getting one spot with Joe Walker and Mark Nzeocha competing for the final berth. 
• Barrows writes 49ers CB Jamar Taylor is the first man up at nickel corner behind K’Waun Williams. 

Rams

Part of what drew the Rams to WR Van Jefferson in the second round was his upbringing as the son of former NFL WR and Jets WR coach Shawn Jefferson. That was on display as Jefferson’s game was much more polished and technical than the average college wideout. So far, the rookie has carried that over to training camp and drew a comparison to Rams WR Cooper Kupp from QB Jared Goff.

• Per SI.com’s Eric Williams, the Rams lined up LT Andrew Whitworth, G Joseph Noteboom, C Austin Blythe, G Austin Corbett and OT Rob Havenstein as their starting offensive line. 
• Corbett started again at right guard on Wednesday. (Jourdan Rodrigue)

Seahawks

Seahawks CB Shaquill Griffin, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal, says he isn’t focused on his contract situation and is instead worried about the things he can control.

“I never really been big on the contract and things like that because it’s always going to play itself out,” said Griffin, via Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. “Right now, I’m focused on the things I can focus on. I feel like that’s the best way to keep your mind focused because I seen a lot of players get caught up in ‘I want to get paid a lot,’ and they don’t play the same. It’s not about that. You didn’t start playing this game for the money, you played it because you love it.”

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer thinks the Seahawks still make the most sense as a landing spot for DE Jadeveon Clowney given his familiarity in the system. 
• The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar mentions third-round G Damien Lewis, fourth-round RB Deejay Dallas and fifth-round DE Alton Robinson as rookies who have made some plays so far in camp. 
• Dugar has also been impressed by LB Cody Barton, who’s buried on the depth chart at middle linebacker but looks more than ready when his time comes. 
• Dugar notes the center competition is wide open and so far Ethan Pocic and free-agent signing B.J. Finney have been rotating at the position.