Walter Nolen III will miss the start of training camp with the Cardinals
The Cardinals’ first-round rookie, Walter Nolen III, will miss the start of training camp due to a calf injury sustained during offseason training, according to coach Jonathan Gannon. Gannon did not specify a timeframe for the defensive tackle’s return, limiting himself to saying that the 16th pick of the draft “will miss some time.” He did not even rule out that Nolen could miss regular season games.Gannon explained that Nolen’s injury is “a little different” from the one suffered by defensive end Darius Robinson, also selected in the first round in 2024, last August, and that kept him out of the first 11 games of the season. Gannon added that Nolen is in the process of recovery and rehabilitation, and that “he is working hard to come back”. In addition, Gannon announced that defensive tackle Bilal Nichols and outside linebacker BJ Ojulari will also miss the start of camp due to injuries suffered last year. Nichols was limited to playing six games last season due to a neck injury, while Ojulari missed the entire 2024 season due to a torn ACL suffered at the start of training camp. According to the NFL’s transaction log from Wednesday, Nolen, Nichols, and Ojulari were added to the physically unable to perform reserve list. Before Ojulari’s injury last year, he was expected to compete for a starting position. With Arizona overhauling its defensive line this offseason, including the additions of pass rushers Josh Sweat and Jordan Burch, Ojulari will face tougher competition for a starting spot when he returns to the field.I don’t know. I really don’t know. We’ll see how it goes. Each one is a little different. Each injury is a little different. Each player is a little different.
Jonathan Gannon
Obviously, repetitions are learning experiences, so a year of repetitions, of game repetitions, was lost, and I really liked where his performance was going. But, when he returns, he will pick up where he left off, and then every day will be a learning experience for him.
Jonathan Gannon
