From 2016-2018, the Arizona Cardinals were ravaged by injuries on the offensive line. That has changed this year, as only one position has really been affected by injuries.
However, the defensive line has been dealt a bad hand. Between injuries and disappointments, the Cardinals have lost six defensive linemen, all of whom were either projected starters or key contributors.
It started in training camp. Basically an entire roster of defensive linemen has been lost. As of now, the starters will be Corey Peters, Zach Kerr and Caraun Reid. Peters has been a rock. Kerr was signed off the street in October and Reid was signed last week, cut and re-signed on Tuesday.
Who are these missing pieces?
Darius Philon
Philon was the biggest loss. He was one of their big free agent acquisitions. However, an arrest on assault charges led to his release in training camp. He was expected to be the best player on the line. It is hard to blame the Cardinals for this miss. He didn’t have a checkered past and it would have looked terrible to keep him on the roster.
Robert Nkemdiche
Nkemdiche began the offseason injured, coming off an ACL tear. However, he was expected to be a big part of the second half of the season. He disappointed yet again. He showed up to camp fat and out of shape. He was cut. He is one of the biggest draft busts for the Cardinals in recent history.
Zach Allen
A third-round rookie, Allen assumed a starting role once Philon was cut. He got injured in the team’s fourth game of the year and never played again. He ended up on injured reserve on November 13.
Rodney Gunter
Gunter is the latest to go down. He made it through 13 games but was placed on injured reserve this week. He has been a starter all season.
Clinton McDonald
McDonald was signed during the preseason and was immediately a rotational player. However, he got hurt and was placed on injured reserve in November.
Jonathan Bullard
Bullard was claimed off waivers before the season began. He played in only nine games, starting six. First he had a foot injury and then, when he returned, he hurt his hamstring and was placed on injured reserve.
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