The Cardinals are expected to have Walter Nolen III on the field Sunday after the defensive lineman was listed as questionable with a calf injury ahead of Week 5’s matchup with the Detroit Lions.
Nolen was limited in both Thursday and Friday practices, but Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro reported that he looks set to play unless something changes at the last minute. Gambadoro wrote on X: "Looks like Cardinals DT Walter Nolen, who is listed as questionable with a calf injury, will be a go for tomorrow vs Detroit at State Farm Stadium. This is of course barring any late-minute setback."
Arizona also didn’t elevate a defensive lineman from its practice squad for Sunday, a move that pointed toward Nolen being available. Official inactives are due at 11:55 AM, which will provide the final word on his status.
The injury watch matters because Nolen entered the year with real expectations after a promising 2025 that came despite a pair of injuries that limited the former first-round pick to just six games as a rookie. Before the season, Nolen sounded confident about the kind of difference he can make along the interior.
"I feel like it starts with us (along the interior), especially talking about my position. I feel like I’m the heartbeat of the defense a lot of times," Nolen said before the season began, showing an understanding of just how impactful he could be.
“When I’m on the field, things move a little bit differently. So as long as I’m out there, I feel like we’re going to kick ass.”
Through four games this season, though, the production hasn’t matched the promise. Nolen has just eight tackles and one sack, and the Cardinals’ pass rush has remained a concern. Even with offseason additions such as Roy Lopez up front, Arizona is still leaning heavily on Nolen and Josh Sweat to deliver more.
Neither player has gotten off to the kind of fast start the Cardinals wanted, but there is at least one number that suggests Nolen has been doing more than the raw box score shows. His 19% ESPN win rate on pass rushes is at or above the marks posted by Leonard Williams, Daron Payne and Dexter Lawrence so far.
Now comes a test against a Lions team that has allowed eight sacks, which puts Detroit in the middle of the league in that category. With a game that could turn into a shootout, Arizona could use every bit of help it can get from Nolen and the rest of the front.
In Other News...
Marvin Harrison Jr. Drama Leaves Cardinals Offense In A Tough Spot
The Cardinals are suddenly trying to navigate another week without Marvin Harrison Jr., and the timing hardly helps an offense that has already had to keep adjusting around him. Harrison has hired agents Todd France and Tory Dandy, which adds another layer to a situation that has already stirred up plenty of trade buzz, even though he is not worried about those rumors. Now the bigger immediate issue is more practical than speculative: Arizona will be without him against the Lions.
There is a sense this could get resolved quickly, with the expectation around the league being that a deal will be in place for Harrison on Monday. Until then, the Cardinals are left filling a hole at wide receiver while their attention is split between what happens on the field this week and what happens next off it. For a team trying to settle its offense, that is about as awkward a setup as it gets. [Read more 🡒]
Marvin Harrison Jr. Trade Buzz Just Changed Arizonas Week
Marvin Harrison Jr.s week in Arizona has taken a sharp turn, with the Cardinals suddenly dealing with trade buzz around one of their most high-profile young players. No deal has been completed yet, but the chatter is real enough that other teams are doing their homework, and the situation has already shifted the conversation around a roster that had been expected to move forward with Harrison as a central piece.
The Cardinals are not actively shopping him, but interest has surfaced from teams such as the Colts and Texans, which adds another layer to the story as the front office weighs what comes next. For now, the only certainty is that Arizonas plans around Harrison are no longer routine, and the coming days could determine whether this remains background noise or turns into one of the weeks biggest developments. [Read more 🡒]
Marvin Harrison Jr. Trade Buzz Puts Cardinals In A Massive Spotlight
Trade chatter around Marvin Harrison Jr. has thrust the Cardinals into an unexpected spotlight, even as no deal has been finalized. Indianapolis has reportedly stepped away from talks after finding Arizonas price too steep, which tells you the Cardinals are not treating this like a routine move for a high-profile young receiver.
Houston has also been mentioned as a team in the mix, and that alone adds another layer of intrigue because of the possible connection to C.J. Stroud. For Arizona, the situation now centers on whether the asking price can be met and whether the buzz around Harrison leads to a deal at all, with no official confirmation yet from any side. [Read more 🡒]