Cardinals rookie DE Walter Nolen III (calf) to miss start of camp

Field Level Media|published: Wed 23rd July, 18:13 2025

Jun 10, 2025; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Walter Nolen III (97) during minicamp at the teams Arizona Cardinals Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Arizona Cardinals first-round pick Walter Nolen III is sidelined with a calf injury and there is no timeline for his return.

The 21-year-old defensive lineman, selected 16th overall in the 2025 draft, was injured in offseason workouts, coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters on Wednesday.

Gannon didn't rule out that the injury could stretch into the regular season.

"I don't know that," Gannon told reporters. "I really don't. We'll see how it goes. Each one's a little bit different. Each injury's a little bit different. Each guy's a little bit different."

Defensive tackle Bilal Nichols (neck) and outside linebacker BJ Ojulari (knee) will also be sidelined when Arizona opens training camp on Thursday.

Nichols was limited to six games (five starts) due to stinger issues last season. Ojulari missed the entire season after tearing the ACL in his left knee during 2024 training camp.

"They want to be out there with their teammates and practice," Gannon said. "We need all three. But when they're healthy, they'll play."

Nolen was a consensus All-American last season while racking up 14 tackles for loss (including 6.5 sacks) for Ole Miss. He spent his previous two college seasons at Texas A&M.

Nichols, 28, has 248 tackles and 14 sacks in 100 games (88 starts) over eight seasons with the Chicago Bears (2018-21), Las Vegas Raiders (2022-23) and Cardinals.

Ojulari, 23, had 40 tackles and four sacks while playing in all 17 games as a reserve as a rookie in 2023.

--Field Level Media