The Arizona Cardinals drafted Walter Nolen III to be the centerpiece of a rebuilt defensive line, but injuries are already derailing those plans.
The Cardinals placed Nolen on the Physically Unable to Perform list and likely to miss all of camp. The team added defensive linemen Bilal Nichols and BJ Ojulari to the PUP list today as well.
“He’s recovering, rehabbing, and he’ll get out there when he needs to get out there,” said Head Coach Jonathan Gannon
The Cardinals drafted Nolen 16th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein notes Nolen as a block-eating defensive tackle with powerful hands. The team sees him as the perfect counter to quarterbacks like Matthew Stafford and Brock Purdy.
“The pass rush still requires refinement, but he already flashes quick-win moves that foreshadow good pressure and sack production as a pro. Nolen’s blend of explosiveness and playmaking talent create high upside as a three-down interior lineman,” wrote Zierlein
Nichols and Ojulari are each dealing with injuries sustained during the 2024 season. The team considers them day-to-day, Gannon saying they will be on the field as soon as they are healthy. Ojulari is one to watch in particular; the former second-round pick is coming back from an ACL tear that kept him sidelined for all of 2024.
Nolen, Nichols and Ojulari are all key pieces in the Cardinals’ attempt to revamp a unit that has been lacking in recent seasons. The team added former Philadelphia Eagles pass rusher Josh Sweat in free agency. They also drafted defensive end Darius Robinson 27th overall in 2024.
Cardinals Should Be Patient With Injuries
Injuries are an unfortunate reality in the NFL. The Cardinals will have a decision to make on whether to push these injured players onto the field as soon as possible.
In years past, the team may have been forced to rush players back from injury or sign emergency replacements. The lack of depth in previous years has contributed to poor defensive performances, something the team has rectified for this season.
The Cardinals signed five free-agent defensive linemen, and 2024 rookie Darius Robinson is returning from injury. Locked On Cardinals host Alex Clancy points out the Cardinals can prioritize Nolen’s recovery and long term health.
“If the entire rookie class for the Arizona Cardinals in 2025 didn’t exist, this roster would still have had a huge zero-to-one jump with the talent floor,” said Clancy.
Clancy went on to say the players on defense who will cover for injuries will still help the Cardinals improve their pass rush from last season.
Injuries Won’t Change Fans’ Expectations
Injuries may be plaguing the Cardinals’ defense, but recent drafts and free agent acquisitions have fans hopeful for success. Fans are expecting a young Cardinals team to take a big leap in 2025.
The Cardinals have not made the playoffs since 2021, and they haven’t won a playoff game since 2015. That almost changed in 2024; the team was 6-4 by week 11 with a shot at the division. Unfortunately, they lost five of the last 7 games of the season and missed the playoffs once again. They finished the season in the bottom half of the league in yards per game allowed.
However, Michael Haney of raisingzona.com expects the Cardinals’ defense to shoot into the top half of the league in 2025. Haney wants to see the defense rise to support an offense that was in the top half for points scored per game.
“Rookies like Walter Nolen and Will Johnson should make an immediate impact. Arizona’s defense is now talented enough to finish in the top half of the NFL, at the very least,” said Haney. “A top-ten offense and a potential top-ten defense should be more than enough to drive the Cardinals into the postseason.”
The Cardinals spent six of their seven draft picks on defense in 2025. They signed two top defensive free agents in Sweat and Dalvin Tomlinson. Fans expect these moves to pay dividends, but time will tell if playoff expectations are unrealistic.
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