Josh Sweat returns for Cardinals’ mandatory minicamp after missing voluntary workouts

The Arizona Cardinals began mandatory veteran minicamp Monday, June 8, running through June 10 with practices scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. One of the more closely watched arrivals of the spring finally came, as EDGE rusher Josh Sweat reported to the team after not being present for the voluntary part of the offseason program.

According to reports from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Sweat had also not been with the Cardinals during the team’s strength and conditioning program and had not participated in OTAs. Instead, he reportedly handled his offseason training on his own, a routine he has used previously in his career. The late-week availability matters because mandatory minicamp is the first stretch of the offseason when players can be expected to be physically present for team practice sessions, even if training detail can still vary.

Sweat’s arrival also reduced the immediate risk of penalties tied to missing mandatory work. Multiple outlets reported that if he had not shown, he would have been subject to fines that could reach into the six figures. While the exact figure is not spelled out in the initial report, the key point is clear: mandatory minicamp comes with enforceable attendance requirements that are stricter than the voluntary calendar.

There is also a baseball-leaning undertone to the timing. Mandatory minicamp is often the first place where teams assess how players handle the transition from offseason individual work back to coordinated practice and schemes. For Sweat, that transition is particularly important because he is viewed as the centerpiece of Arizona’s outside pass-rush unit. Reports highlighted that last season Sweat led the team with 12 sacks and that the rest of the players at his position combined for 5.5.

That production context helps explain why his presence at minicamp is more than procedural. The Cardinals’ defensive identity depends heavily on generating pressure from the edge, and when Sweat is consistently available and engaged, he can serve as both a matchup problem and a stabilizing force in the scheme. If a player of that role chooses to work around the team during practice, it can change the rhythm of reps, the quality of pass-rush look periods, and how other rushers are used to balance the front.

What to watch next is whether Sweat participates fully in Tuesday and Wednesday’s on-field sessions or remains limited in practice while continuing his own training. The difference between being on-site but not taking part in drills, and being fully integrated, will shape how the Cardinals evaluate the pass rush early in the next stage of the offseason. It will also be an early window into how the team wants to approach the remainder of organized team activities and the lead-up to training camp.

For now, the story is straightforward: Sweat, after missing voluntary workouts and the early part of the program, is back for mandatory minicamp. In a league where offseason participation can turn into a major head start or a lingering adjustment period, his next two practice days should provide a clearer picture of his availability and engagement heading toward the summer schedule.