It was Dec. 21 when Walter Nolen crumpled to the turf at State Farm Stadium, reaching for his knee in agony. Since then, his status has been shrouded in secrecy. Neither Jonathan Gannon nor his successor, Mike LaFleur, would reveal the specifics of Nolen’s injury, which seemed to threaten his availability to begin the 2026 season.
But in a video posted to TikTok on Jan. 11, Nolen’s girlfriend, Tyler Nelson, revealed that Nolen had sustained a torn meniscus.
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“(Nolen) tore his meniscus and had to get surgery and so now this is how he showers,” Nelson said, showing a plastic chair inside a walk-in shower.
Gannon had previously revealed that Nolen underwent successful meniscus surgery in the final week of December. And in Nelson’s video, Nolen wore a significant brace on his injured left knee.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill with former Cardinals star cornerback Patrick Peterson during his retirement news conference at the Cardinals’ Tempe facility on April 14, 2025.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill with former Cardinals star cornerback Patrick Peterson during his retirement news conference at the Cardinals’ Tempe facility on April 14, 2025.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals guard Jonathan Cooper (61) against the Green Bay Packers at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, on Dec. 27, 2015.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Deone Bucannon.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle D.J. Humphries (74) yells towards the fans after taking a 18-15 lead in the fourth quarter during NFL action against the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 28 at State Farm Stadium.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (90) is introduced before playing against the Chicago Bears at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. September 23, 2018.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) celebrates his interception against the Jacksonville Jaguars at State Farm Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) looks to pass against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, on Dec. 30, 2026.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) makes a throw against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, on Oct. 5, 2025.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Cardinals linebacker Isaiah Simmons (9) runs after an interception against the Patriots during the first half of a game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Dec. 12, 2022.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Zaven Collins (25) against the Kansas City Chiefs during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium in Aug. 9, 2025, in Glendale.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Cardinals offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. (70) warms up during a preseason game at State Farm Stadium on Aug. 9, 2025, in Glendale.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Marvin Harrison Jr. #18 of the Arizona Cardinals makes a catch ahead of Daron Bland #26 of the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on Nov. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.
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Arizona Cardinals 1st-round NFL draft picks over the years
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Walter Nolen III (97) is introduced before their game against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Nov. 16, 2025.
That indicates that Nolen underwent a procedure to fully repair his meniscus, which carries a multi-month recovery timeline — typically in the range of three to six months. The other option for treating a torn meniscus is to trim the disc. That procedure enables players to return to the field within weeks, but carries a higher risk of long-term issues.
But for Nolen, the key is avoiding a more significant injury — such as a torn ACL — that could have pushed his recovery timeline into the 2026 season. With a torn meniscus suffered in December, Nolen figures to be ready when the Cardinals begin training camp in July.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon looks on as Walter Nolen III (97) of the Arizona Cardinals is attended to during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at State Farm Stadium on Dec. 21, 2025, in Glendale.
Although no member of the organization has confirmed Nolen’s status, LaFleur did say that Nolen has been around the team facility all offseason and is “looking good.”
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As a rookie, Nolen dealt with a calf strain, a minor knee injury and the torn meniscus that ended his season — an aberration for a player who did not miss a single game due to injury in high school or college.
On the field, though, he was the dominant presence whom the Cardinals had hoped to acquire when they selected him 16th overall last April. In six games, he recorded two sacks and generated a remarkable 15.2% pressure rate, per Pro Football Focus. Across a full season, that would have been the best mark of any defensive tackle in the NFL.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Walter Nolen injury revealed as Cardinals get good news