Reflecting on the past month since receiving the news he was suspended, Zay Jones said it has been "different and unique."

"It's a very quiet time," the wide receiver said. "It's the first time I've actually gone through something like that."

Jones was suspended prior to the season opener for violating the league's personal conduct policy, sidelining him for the first five games of the season. His suspension ended Monday, but the NFL granted the Cardinals a one-week exemption to put him back on the roster. Since Jones will miss Sunday's game against the Packers with a hamstring injury that occurred on Thursday, the roster move won't come until next week.

Jones declined to detail his reaction to the suspension or the conversations behind closed doors. The eight-year veteran said he'd be "doing this team and the people around me that have supported me a disservice to go backwards."

While he won't play at Lambeau Field this weekend, Jones and the Cardinals are looking ahead to integrating a new target into the offense. Signed to the team in May after being let go by the Jaguars, Jones had spent the offseason working on developing a rapport with quarterback Kyler Murray and his teammates. Texas ties run deep, so Murray and Jones were familiar with one another before becoming teammates.

But like many other veterans, Jones did not play in the preseason and hasn't had live in-game reps since a game with the Jaguars on Jan. 7.

"Zay's played a lot of football," Murray said. "He's got a great feel for the game as a receiver. He understands. He's played with a lot of different quarterbacks. He grew up in Texas, so growing up in a 7-on-7 culture, having a feel for zones and being able to win against man, I think he's capable of all that.

"I don't think (time off) will be an issue with Zay."

When he was signed, the staff believed Jones would be another complimentary piece for Murray and the offense. At 6-foot-2, Jones is a three-position target with the ability to line up inside or outside. The wide receiver wouldn't give a prediction on how his presence will impact the offense, instead noting he will be prepared for whenever his number is called.

During the suspension, Jones attempted to recreate a training regimen that would allow him to return in shape. It consisted of swimming, biking, running hills, and sprints.

"It's a lot of time (missed)," coach Jonathan Gannon said. "You've got to get your sea legs back a little bit. But we have a really good return to play, and everybody is different."

Even while he was suspended, Jones was allowed to be in the facility with the team. Gannon said having Jones around ball and in meetings provided the wide receiver with a boost as he began getting acclimated back to the program, even if Jones couldn't practice (or even watch practice.)

"I'm grateful," Jones said. "I didn't know the ins and outs of what was going to be allowed of me, but when I was allowed back in the building and the guys embraced me, to which the extent that they could, trying to follow the rules as best as possible, that was a blessing."

Over the past seven weeks, while sitting in silence was hard for the wide receiver, it allowed him to take a deeper look into himself and his process. Whether it's on Monday Night Football against the Chargers or later, Jones' focus is on helping the team win.

"It's been hard. It's been difficult, not only on myself, but the people around me," Jones said. "So to have that behind me now and to look forward to the positive things that are coming, not only for myself, but for this team, is what I look forward to."