Cardinals Rookie Walter Nolen Misses Most Training Camp With Calf Injury

The Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round defensive lineman Walter Nolen suffered a calf injury during training camp preparations, causing him to miss most, if not all, of training camp and putting his early-season playing time in doubt. While the injury is a setback, it is not expected to cripple the Cardinals' defensive line due to the team's depth, including veterans like Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson, as well as players like Darius Robinson, Dante Stills, and L.J. Collier. Nolen's absence opens opportunities for other defensive linemen to earn more playing time and prove their value, with some seeing this as a chance to change the trajectory of their careers. This marks a troubling pattern for the Cardinals, as last year’s first-round pick Darius Robinson also missed substantial time due to a calf injury. Nolen has been placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, with his return timeline running up to the start of the regular season, meaning he will likely miss full-contact work and could be limited in the first half of the season. Despite the injury setbacks, the Cardinals' defensive front remains deep and versatile, which may mitigate the impact of losing Nolen in training camp.