A calf injury has led to the Arizona Cardinals beginning their season with a first-round pick sidelined for a second straight year.
Cardinals defensive lineman Walter Nolen, the 16th selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, has been moved from the active/physically unable to perform list to the reserve/PUP list due to a lingering calf issue, the team announced Tuesday. His placement on the list means Nolen will miss at least the first four games of the season.
In 2024, the Cardinals had two first-round choices: wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (No. 4 overall) and defensive lineman Darius Robinson (No. 27). Robinson didn't debut until Week 13 due to a calf injury.
Arizona's no doubt hoping it will see Nolen on the field sooner than that.
Nolen injured his calf at the team facility in mid-July and was placed on the active/PUP list thereafter. He's now eligible to come off PUP in time for the Cardinals' Week 5 home game against the Tennessee Titans, but will miss the season opener at the New Orleans Saints and subsequent tilts versus the Carolina Panthers (Week 2), at the San Francisco 49ers (Week 3) and versus the Seattle Seahawks (Week 4).
Boasting a great get-off, Nolen can wreak havoc in the backfield, as evidenced by his 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks during his 2024 junior season at Ole Miss.
Unfortunately for the Cards, just how much of an impact Nolen can make is a question that won't be answered until Week 5 at the earliest.
