Arizona Cardinals first-round DT Walter Nolen suffered a calf injury while training this offseason and could miss the remainder of training camp, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday, per sources.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed Nolen's injury but declined to specify how long Nolen would miss.
"(He's) going to miss some time," Gannon said on Wednesday, per the official team site.
Gannon added that he didn't know if Nolen's absence could trickle into the regular season.
This is a tough early blow to the Cardinals' revamped defensive front. Nolen, the 16th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is a penetrating interior player who was expected to vie for playing time immediately
"He's working hard to get back," Gannon said, per The Associated Press.
The Cardinals made improving the defensive line a priority this offseason, adding Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell through free agency and Nolen and Jordan Burch via the draft.
The Cardinals also expect a jump from 2024 first-rounder Darius Robinson, who likewise missed extended time as a rookie with a calf injury. Gannon said Nolen's injury is "a little bit different" than the one Robinson suffered a year ago.
That unit's depth now will be tested, as Nolen's injury wasn't the only challenging news for Arizona up front. Like Nolen, BJ Ojulari (knee) and Bilal Nichols (neck) were also placed on the PUP list on Wednesday. Those two are not yet ready to practice as they recover from injuries sustained last season.
