Darius Robinson Shows Signs of Life in a Season That’s Tested Everyone in Arizona
The Arizona Cardinals' 2025 season has been a grind - and not the kind that builds character in a feel-good sports movie. This has been the kind of year that tests patience, resilience, and for many fans, loyalty.
With injuries piling up and wins in short supply, Sunday’s 26-19 loss to the Falcons felt like more of the same. But if you looked closely, there was at least one reason to keep watching: Darius Robinson.
Yes, the Cardinals’ final home game didn’t offer much in terms of team success. But for a franchise that has leaned heavily on its draft-and-develop philosophy, the emergence - or at least the beginning of it - of a young defensive lineman like Robinson is a storyline worth following.
A Long Road Back
Robinson’s NFL journey hasn’t been smooth. After a promising college career at Missouri, he entered the league with high expectations - the kind that come with being a first-round pick.
But his rookie season in 2024 was derailed by a significant leg injury. That alone would’ve been tough.
Then came an even more heartbreaking blow: the loss of his mother. It’s the kind of one-two punch that can derail a career before it even gets started.
So when Robinson entered 2025, it wasn’t just about football. It was about finding his footing again - physically, emotionally, professionally.
And for most of the season, the results just weren’t there. One sack.
Eight pressures. A Pro Football Focus grade that ranked him near the bottom of all qualified defensive linemen.
And Robinson knew it.
“We’ve only won 3 games since September,” he said after a recent loss to the Buccaneers. “That’s terrible.
That starts with myself. I’m not who I thought I was.”
That’s not a lack of confidence talking - that’s a player holding himself accountable. And for a guy with Robinson’s upside, that’s a positive sign, even if the production hadn’t shown up yet.
A Glimmer of Progress
But on Sunday, something shifted. No, Robinson didn’t dominate the Falcons from start to finish.
He didn’t rack up sacks or force turnovers that swung the game. But he made his presence felt - and for a young player trying to climb out of a tough stretch, that matters.
Seven tackles. A career high.
One tackle for loss on a critical fourth down. A fumble recovery on another.
He looked active. He looked confident.
He looked like a player who might finally be turning a corner.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon didn’t hold back in his praise after the game.
“[He] played with good technique, good mode of play. I thought he was super productive,” Gannon said.
“Yeah, it was one of his better games, I thought. He’s been on the trend up here this last month or so.
And like I said, even if he doesn’t show up in a box score, I think he’s playing the right way right now. And doing his job at a pretty high level.”
That’s the kind of feedback that matters - not just for fans, but for the player himself. Because when you’re trying to rebuild your game and your confidence, you need those small wins.
You need coaches to notice the details. And you need moments like Sunday.
Bigger Picture, Smaller Victories
Let’s be clear: one solid outing from a young defensive lineman isn’t going to fix a 3-12 season. It won’t erase the frustration fans have felt watching this team struggle to stay competitive. But in a year where the Cardinals have seen multiple draft picks - including Walter Nolen III, who just went on IR with a knee injury - fail to make consistent impact, any sign of development is a welcome one.
Robinson has always had the physical tools. That’s why Arizona took a chance on him in the first round.
The question has always been how long it would take for those tools to translate into production. Maybe, just maybe, Sunday was the beginning of that answer.
And for a team that’s searching for building blocks, that’s not nothing.
Looking Ahead
There’s no sugarcoating it - the Cardinals’ season has been brutal. The losses have piled up.
The injuries have mounted. And the product on the field has often been tough to watch.
But the final weeks of a lost season aren’t just about playing out the string. They’re about evaluation.
They’re about development. And for players like Darius Robinson, they’re about proving you belong.
No one’s handing out moral victories in December. But if Robinson can stack a few more performances like Sunday’s, he might just give Arizona something to build on - and give himself a real shot at becoming the player he always believed he could be.
There’s still a long road ahead. But for the first time in a while, Robinson looks like he’s moving in the right direction.