Cardinals 1st-round pick already dealing with injury concerns before training camp opens

Cardinals Gannon announces Nolen’s calf injury:

The calf injury to Nolen makes it back-to-back years that Arizona’s first-round pick has dealt with a calf injury before their rookie season, with 27th overall pick Darius Robinson suffering a calf strain last year. Robinson was put on the sideline for a while, only appearing in six games in 2024. The season is still two months away, but Gannon didn’t a timeline on when Nolen is expected back.

One can use context clue and assume that the injury isn’t a major concern based on Gannon’s deliverance of the news. However, back-to-back year’s with first-round pick being injured before training camp isn’t a stellar streak to build upon, especially for the mental health of fans across the Valley.

No reports have indicated it, but if Nolen’s injury does develop into a long-term injury, the Cardinals have the depth at defensive tackle to brace the blow. The two new signings of Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell can fill in Nolen’s absence for defensive coordinator Nick Rallis’ 3-4 scheme.

Arizona was tied for the second best run-defense PFF grade at 78.0 when in a 3-4 front. That mark can be improved upon even more, with Campbell leading all defensive tackles with a 85.9 run-defense PFF grade in 2024. The defensive front has become one of the team’s biggest weaknesses to one of its most stacked position.

While Gannon and the rest of coaching staff obviously want their first-round pick back on the field, the Cardinals are built to survive the absence of Nolen if needed.