July 27, 2025<\/a><\/p>\nAs for Nolen, there\u2019s still the chance he gets back on track, though potentially missing all of training camp and the preseason is going to stunt his on-field progression.<\/p>\n
Arizona isn\u2019t going to run the risk of running Nolen out there early, either.<\/p>\n
Every injury is different and everyone heals differently, but after watching the slow roll of 2024 first-round pick Darius Robinson and his own calf issues, Arizona isn\u2019t going to run the risk of speeding up the timeline of Nolen\u2019s recovery.<\/p>\n
And while Cardinals fans were quick with the \u201cnot agains,\u201d Arizona\u2019s defensive situation in 2025 is mightily different from what it was last year.<\/p>\n
Along the defensive line, the Cardinals have plenty of rotational talent to run with while Nolen is on the mend.<\/p>\n
That includes projected starters Calais Campbell, Dalvin Tomlinson and Robinson, whose first-team role feels that much more cemented with Nolen sidelined. Throw in Dante Stills, L.J. Collier, Justin Jones and undrafted Elijah Simmons, and there\u2019s a rotation that still looks head and shoulders above the last two seasons.<\/p>\n
Losing Thomas, however, hurts much more.<\/p>\n
After starting in 22 of 29 games played across the past two seasons, the cornerback was consistently seeing first-team reps on the outside in a rotation with Max Melton and rookie Will Johnson.<\/p>\n
Even if he had lost out on securing one of the starting spots, all signs pointed to Thomas having an impactful role defensively.<\/p>\n
Now, it\u2019s on the rest of the room to not only stack training camp days but stay available given the recent injuries.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been big-time competition in that room. I like where the room\u2019s trending,\u201d Gannon said. \u201cI think they\u2019re doing a good job and it\u2019s only going to increase right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also on general manager Monti Ossenfort to keep his pulse on the free agent market in case the hits keep coming when the pads enter the equation on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cRoster construction never ends,\u201d Ossenfort said Friday. \u201cWe\u2019re constantly looking at it this time of year. It\u2019s players that are still free agents, players that may get let go by other teams. In a few weeks here, our staff will all turn our attention to the pro preseason games.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re at the mercy of what\u2019s available, what\u2019s out there. I think that\u2019s a constant that we\u2019re always trying to do and that also includes every day evaluating our team. It\u2019s a competitive business. \u2026 it\u2019s just one of those things that whenever there\u2019s a chance to upgrade, something that we want to go out and do, we certainly will do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
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