"I think the preseason is the time when you jell with your teammates," Mathieu said. "You use that time to work on fundamentals, work on the scheme. Obviously there's some importance in it, but I don't think it's a rush to get back out there."

The star safety will be sporting a different brace than the one he wore following his return from the torn ACL he suffered near the end of his rookie season. That brace bugged him, but the new one is more comfortable.

"Obviously any brace has some restriction to it, but that one is way lighter," Mathieu said. "I feel way looser. And with this injury, it's not as severe as the last one. So I'm not thinking as much. I'm just going."

Mathieu struggled in 2014 after his first ACL tear, but is feeling much more confident this time around. He has lofty goals, but ones he doesn't want to share publicly.

"I don't want to break the internet," he said with a large smile.

A REUNION WITH KEN WHISENHUNT

Ken Whisenhunt, who coached the Cardinals for six seasons including the 2008 Super Bowl year, is the offensive coordinator for the Chargers. He spent time before practice on Tuesday and Wednesday catching up with former players who are still with the Cardinals.

He's enjoyed that interaction, but admitted it's still strange to be coaching against them.

"It's a little different for me, to be honest," Whisenhunt said. "Our quarterbacks wear red jerseys, and I said, 'That's a little too weird for me.' But it's good. Obviously I wore red for a number of years."

FITZGERALD, MATHIS TAKE THE DAY OFF

Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and guard Evan Mathis were among the players who missed practice on Wednesday, although it was assumed to be a veteran's day off for both of them.

Linebacker Alex Okafor did rehab on the side. Others who missed the practice were defensive tackle Ed Stinson (muscle injury), defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (ankle), wide receiver Brittan Golden (hamstring), cornerback Alan Ball (unknown), cornerback Asa Jackson (leg), wideout John Brown (concussion), center Taylor Boggs (calf), defensive tackle Iosia Iosia (unknown) and guard Earl Watford (knee).

Safety Tyrann Mathieu (knee), cornerback Justin Bethel (foot) and defensive tackle Frostee Rucker (ankle) were activated from the physically unable to perform list on Tuesday but haven't practiced.