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Tyrann Mathieu: I’m going to “play it patient” with ACL rehab

Green Bay Packers v Arizona Cardinals

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 27: Free safety Tyrann Mathieu #32 of the Arizona Cardinals walks the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the NFL game against the Green Bay Packers at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 27, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Packers 38-8. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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In April, Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said the team has to hold safety Tyrann Mathieu back in his ACL rehab and that he is “so happy” that Mathieu will be “ready to go” for training camp.

Mathieu is “really pleased” by how things are progressing with his second ACL rehab in the last three years, but he’s not making any promises about when he’ll be back on the field. He feels he returned too quickly from his previous injury and is going to “play it patient” to ensure that he’s all the way back to form. If that extends into the regular season, Mathieu is OK with that.

“If I’m 90 percent, then I don’t necessarily want to go out there,” Mathieu said, via the Arizona Republic. “But if I’m 100 percent, I definitely want to be out there. I’ve already shown who I am and what I am, so my objective is to come back that same person. And if I can’t come back that same person, maybe I should wait until I am that person again.”

There doesn’t seem to be much concern on the Cardinals’ end that Mathieu will get back to 100 percent. Talks on an extension are underway and expectations are that a deal will be reached, although Mathieu said that he’s talking to agent Tom Condon about his recovery and not contract numbers right now.