The Arizona Cardinals and first-round rookie Walter Nolen suffered a tough blow at the top of training camp.
Per NFL Network, Nolen suffered a calf injury at the team facility on Wednesday. The 21-year-old defensive tackle will miss most if not all of training camp, per the report.
The precise nature of the injury wasn’t immediately clear, nor was a long-term timeline or prognosis. The injury prompted the Cardinals to place Nolen on the physically unable to perform list.
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The Cardinals selected Nolen with the 16th pick out of Ole Miss. A consensus All-American during his junior season at Mississippi, Nolen was projected to anchor the interior of Arizona’s defensive line as a rookie.
A capable pass rusher who can create pressure up the middle, Nolen recorded 6.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, three passes defended and two forced fumbles in 13 games for Mississippi last season.
The injury at the very least puts his NFL development on hold. The Cardinals and Nolen are certainly hoping that it doesn’t continue to sideline him into the regular season that starts with a Week 1 matchup against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 7.
The Cardinals enter 2025 hoping to compete in the NFC West and improve on an 8-9 record from last season.