Justin Bethel’s time to shine

Michael Hyatt
Updated

Justin Bethel is hoping to earn a starting cornerback job when training camp starts. He is spending the time right now recovering from surgery on his left foot. He is expected to be ready for training camp along with Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu, both are also recovering from offseason surgeries.

With Jerraud Powers, last year’s starting cornerback still not re-signed and looking like he won’t be re-signed, Bethel feels like it is his time to step up and shine. He feels that he is the starter, along with Peterson and he is preparing himself as such.

Bethel says that he is better player than people give him credit for, meaning that people saw flaws in his game last year that he did not see. He is going to go back and have a look at the films of those games and use that knowledge to better prepare himself for the future. One of his mistakes was in the playoff game against the Green Bay Packers when he got burned by Jeff Janis for 60 yards on fourth and 20, which allowed the Packers to throw the Hail Mary touchdown pass. Earlier in the season, Bethel did shine with a key interception in Week 16 against the same Packers.

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Overall, Bethel had 46 tackles, including 18 on special teams, two interceptions for 21 yards, and one touchdown for the Cardinals last year. He also blocked a field goal and forced a fumble on a punt return. He spent part of the season filling in for Mathieu when Mathieu was injured late in the season.

Bethel knows that the competition in training camp will be tough this year, with the Cardinals bringing in Brandon Williams and Harlan Miller. But it is unlikely that either of the young rookies will be ready to take the starting spot away from him. As always, Bethel will give it 100%. With Williams and Miller, Bethel might actually get a rest on special teams.

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