Chandler Jones played his first game for the Cardinals in 2016 against the New England Patriots – the team that had just traded him to Arizona.
"I'll tell you this – I circled that game on the calendar," Jones recalled Thursday, with his pass-rushing cohort, Terrell Suggs, prepping to play his second game with the Cardinals against his former team, the Baltimore Ravens.
"I'm not saying I'm Terrell, or he's me," Jones added. "But it meant something to me."
Suggs' homecoming in March, when he signed with the Cardinals as a free agent, was about getting a chance to play in his hometown. Two weeks into the regular season, though, Suggs makes another homecoming in returning to the city in which he played his first 16 NFL seasons and became a star.
"When the schedule came out, I was like, 'Yeah, I'm going to downplay it as just another game.' But we all know that'd be (expletive)," Suggs said. "It's kind of a unique situation, isn't it? It's kind of weird. Everybody is just kind of anxious to see what it's going to be like."
Suggs' return is the dominant storyline, topping even the anticipated Kyler Murray-Lamar Jackson matchup. Sunday's home opener for the Ravens is the first time that a game will be played for the franchise in Baltimore that did not include either Ray Lewis or Suggs.
The Ravens had wanted to bring Suggs back. But he wanted to come to Arizona before his career ended, and "it was time," he said.
"We say that when you do some of the things that we were able to do together as a group, you walk together forever," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "That definitely holds true, except for probably three hours on Sunday. We have to look at him as an opponent.
"We have to deal with him because he's a game-wrecker of a player."
Suggs turns 37 next month and the Cardinals want to make sure the long season doesn't wear him down prematurely. But he was wrecking things in the opener, registering two sacks against the Lions and nearly recovering a fumble he forced.
"He was the best player on the field on defense," Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said.
His impact on the locker room has been apparent from the start. Coach Kliff Kingsbury noted Suggs "brings juice" every day, and his teammates smile when asking about Suggs' trash-talking, something for which Suggs was legendary with in Baltimore.
"The whole day he's non-stop," tackle D.J. Humphries said. "The day he comes out and he's not talking, I know something is up. I know I'm about to get some game reps and it's about to get real. 'He's getting his game face right now, let me buckle my damn chin strap.' "
Suggs' Arizona roots have been crucial in his transition, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. Given that Fitzgerald spent part of training camp giving Suggs grief he didn't identify as a Minnesota native (Suggs, like Fitzgerald, was born there), there was some irony in Fitzgerald noting how "comfortable" Suggs has been coming home to Arizona.
That he has fit well in the locker room – quickly finding chemistry with Jones, a humor partner in Humphries and a fellow long-time veteran in Fitzgerald helping the process – also made the transition easy.
"Some locker rooms are more unique than others, but yes, I still get to be myself," Suggs said. "I still get to be 'Sizzle,' and that was key. That was huge. I love just still being able to be one of the guys."
Suggs is on a one-year contract, although he said "I shy away when people start talking about retirement." At the same time, he's been careful not to make any predictions about his performance this season, beginning from the time he signed his deal through training camp until now.
Eventually, he will likely end up back in Baltimore to officially wrap up his career with a special ceremony. It won't be this trip. Regardless, this is a game that will produce memories, no matter how Suggs plays.
"He'll be geeked up," Fitzgerald said. "We'll probably have to be calming him down."
Images of past matchups against this week's opponent, the Baltimore Ravens
2000: Cardinals safety Pat Tillman (40) smiles during pre-game warm-ups before an NFL game at Tempe, Ariz., Dec. 17, 2000. The Ravens defeated the Cardinals 13-7.
2000: Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer reacts during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2000, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
2003: Ravens linebacker Adalius Thomas (96) sacks quarterback Jeff Blake (11) who fumbles during an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals on October 12, 2003.
2000: Cardinals WR David Boston, left, catches a pass as Baltimore Ravens' Duane Starks defends during the first quarter Sunday, Dec. 17, 2000, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
2003: Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs (55) pass rushes during an NFL game against the Cardinals on October 12, 2003.
2003: Cardinals tight end Freddie Jones (85) heads upfield during an NFL game against the Baltimore Ravens on October 12, 2003.
2003: Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis (52) drills Cardinals quarterback Jeff Blake (11) during an NFL game on October 12, 2003.
2003: Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis (52) looks into the opposing backfield during an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals on October 12, 2003.
2007: Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin makes a touchdown reception against Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis during their football game Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007, in Baltimore.
2007: Ravens safety Dawan Landry, left, hits Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald during the fourth quarter of a football game Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007, in Baltimore.
2007: Ravens wide receiver Mark Clayton (89) runs the ball as Cardinals cornerback Antrel Rolle defends during the second quarter of a football game Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007, in Baltimore.
2007: Cardinals running back Edgerrin James, right, runs the ball for 27 yards as Baltimore Ravens' Ed Reed, left, gives chase during the first quarter of a football game Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007, in Baltimore.
2007: Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson (24) defends Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap in the fourth quarter of their game Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007 in Baltimore.
2011: Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb (4) is sacked by Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs during the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011.
2011: Cardinals running back Beanie Wells carries the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011.
2011: Cardinals wide receiver Early Doucet celebrates his touchdown in the end zone during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011.
2011: Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson breaks free from Baltimore Ravens defensive back Haruki Nakamura and returns a punt for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011.
2011: Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is stopped by Ravens players, from left, strong safety Bernard Pollard, cornerback Lardarius Webb and inside linebacker Jameel McClain during the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011.
2011: Cardinals DT Darnell Dockett plays in a NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011.
2015: Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) is sacked by Cardinals linebacker Dwight Freeney (54) during an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz.
2015: Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) knocks away the ball from Ravens wide receiver Chris Givens (13) during the first half of an NFL football game, in Glendale, Ariz.
2015: Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson (22) runs out of the end zone after making a game clinching interception during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, October 26, 2015.
2015: Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith (89) beats Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) to catch a pass during an NFL football game.
2015: Cardinals running back Chris Johnson (23) runs upfield during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, October 26, 2015.
2015: Cardinals defensive tackle Frostee Rucker (92) tries to beat a block by Ravens guard Marshal Yanda (73) during an NFL football game at University of Phoenix Stadium on Monday, October 26, 2015.
