Former Cardinals OL Hints at Return

Justin Pugh is eyeing a return to action once his ACL recovery is complete.

One former Arizona Cardinals OL is on the way back.

Justin Pugh entered the league as a first-round pick back in 2013. After spending 2013-17 with the New York Giants, Pugh inked a five-year, $45 million deal with the Cardinals. 

Pugh was a mainstay in Arizona's trenches for years before hitting free agency this offseason.

Pugh tore his ACL in Week 6 last year and has been working towards recovery.

The Cardinals have since re-tooled their offensive line, headlined by the selection of Paris Johnson Jr. with the sixth overall pick. Pugh's services weren't needed any further, and thus his time in the desert concluded. 

However, Pugh (who just turned 33) has maintained interest in returning to the field. A recent update from NFL insider Mike Garafolo says Pugh has hit the next milestone 

"Former #Giants and #AZCardinals OL Justin Pugh, almost 10 months removed from ACL surgery, has been cleared to do positional drills with former NFL OT LeCharles Bentley. Pugh, the former first-round pick entering his 11th season, is expected to visit teams in the near future," he wrote in a tweet.

Pugh himself concurred. 

On my birthday of all days! https://t.co/cc0ybZ3ncL

— Justin Pugh (@JustinPugh) August 15, 2023

Though Pugh coming back to the desert has been ruled out, a potential reunion with the Giants is very much in play.

“100 percent. I mean, the Giants are one of the teams that I am definitely eyeing — there’s no denying that,” Pugh said via Giants Wire. 

“I’ve mentioned it on Twitter before. It’s where I started my career (and) I would love to finish it there but they also have things in their organization that they had to get figured out.

“They had a lot of contracts this offseason that they had to get squared away. They have some younger offensive linemen who they brought in who are really good players and they wanted to see them go out there and see what they can do. So, we still have a ways to go and how that shakes out, but I do love my New York Giants. I’m still a big supporter. I watch from afar.”