PRESCOTT, Ariz. — It was Tim Chang's first NFL training camp, but somehow, it felt familiar.

"It was a little wet," Chang said, his red Arizona Cardinals practice jersey even darker now because of being drenched in the rain. "So it kind of reminded me of Manoa."

Yesterday marked the first day for the former record-setting University of Hawai'i quarterback to prove he's an NFL player. He signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted rookie free agent in May, went through rookie camps and now must prove his worth during the team's training camp.

Cardinals coach Dennis Green has said that the team's top three quarterbacks on the depth chart are set — starter Kurt Warner, backup Josh McCown and third quarterback John Navarre.

Chang's chances of at least making the practice squad and maybe being allocated to NFL Europe next summer were escalated when the team released Chris Lewis, last season's fourth quarterback, in June.

So Chang's main competition is himself.

Chang said that he has spent the past six weeks studying the team's playbook — the Cardinals' last practice was in early June — and now he is eager to finally throw a pass in an actual practice.

"It's been great out here. My arm feels OK and ready to go," he said. "All this time off — we had about a good month to six weeks off — you still have to put (everything) together and come out here and do your job, working out the kinks and be sharper with every chance."

His work in the offseason has paid off. Chang said he has a good grasp of what's going on and the overwhelming part of being in the NFL has passed.

Being the only quarterback during the rookie development camp in early June was a plus. He took every snap and threw every pass and was given the utmost attention from coaches.

But this is training camp now. He won't get the repetitions or the attention. His abilities will have to land him a spot on an NFL 53-man roster.

Chang said he isn't anxious right now, but will soon be.

The first preseason game is Aug. 13.

"I guess the anxieties come when you think of how close the first preseason game is, it's just in two weeks," Chang said. "You get a little anxiety about that. But other than that, you're just really happy to be out here.

"Some part of me wishes I was still in Hawai'i, but I'm very happy to be out here."

Odeen Domingo is the Arizona Cardinals beat writer for the Arizona Republic.