Walter Nolen injury update: Cardinals star emotional while being carted off vs. Falcons

Both teams surrounded Nolen at midfield of State Farm Stadium. It looks like a potentially serious injury for Nolen, the 2025 first-round pick out of Ole Miss.

Walter Nolen disruptive in first taste of NFL action

Nolen, selected No. 16 overall, made his season debut in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys. He missed all that time with a calf injury and returned this week from a knee injury. In the six games he’s featured in, Nolen has been a bright spot for the Cardinals amid a tough season. Nolen entered Sunday’s game with 11 tackles (eight solo), five tackles for loss, two sacks, four quarterback hits and two PBUs.

“Disruptiveness,” head coach Jonathan Gannon recently said of Nolen, via the team’s website. “Maybe besides that is how many games that he’s played. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, which is cool to see. He can take it to the grass. He understands what he needs to get done in a particular play, but just his ability to be disruptive in the run and pass game.”

Nolen’s been arguably the best defensive tackle in this year’s draft class and has a bright future ahead of him. Unfortunately, it looks like his rookie campaign could be over.

“Football is football and I just love playing it,” Nolen said. “Whenever I get the opportunity to play, I’m going to give it my all every time.”