One thing the Arizona Cardinals need is the ability to stop the run. Especially up the gut. Walter Nolen was drafted in the first round out of Ole Miss last year as a major player to stop this.
However, Nolen spent most of this rookie year injured. He never had an injury at any level until he hit the big boy club; then suddenly, he suffered a calf issue followed by a meniscus tear
in December that required surgery. He did not participate in OTAs as the coaching staff was bringing him along slowly.
RELATED: NOLEN LEAVES PRACTICE EARLY
And now that this year’s training camp is upon us, on the first day of padded practice, Nolen was seen walking off with trainers rather gimpy. He did not return to practice. Rut ruh.
What we know is that it is the same leg that he had problems with last year: his left. During a practice session with the 11-on-11 drills, he hit an offensive lineman awkwardly and then was walking with a definite limp. At first, Nolen attempted to run it off, then jog, and then walk around. But it was apparent that something was not right.
Sunday, the Cardinals again take the field with an open practice from 1:45 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Afterwards, Arizona head coach Mike LaFleur will provide a short press conference. That will be the first knowledge of exactly what is wrong with Nolen, the severity of his current status, and what the team has done as far as X-rays or an MRI.
We assume it is nothing ACL-or MCL-related. The fact that he was walking and then walked the entire path off the practice field should illustrate this. More than likely, cramps are ruled out, and so far nobody has stated that his issue is anything significant. We will see at LaFleur’s presser.
This 2026 defense is counting on Nolen to perform. He was limited to just six games last year, so this 2026 defense is counting on Nolen to perform. Any significant loss of game time will hurt the ability to stop the run this year.
If Nolen’s injury is minor, raise your hand if the Cardinals should just shut him down for the remainder of training camp plus the preseason and then trot him out in Week 1?
