Arizona Cardinals linebacker Dennis Gardeck had a special season in 2020 that ended sadly. After making plays on special teams and suddenly becoming an efficient pass rusher, finishing the season with seven sacks in only 93 defensive snaps, his season came to an abrupt halt with a knee injury.
He missed the final two games of the season. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury would not elaborate as to the specific nature of the injury or his timetable to return, but Gardeck revealed more on social media on Tuesday. He is having his ACL repaired.
His message:
I appreciate all the well wishes, your support doesn’t go unnoticed! The road to recovery begins tomorrow with ACL reconstruction. I’ll be back and better than ever in 2021, believe it!
He apparently is set to undergo surgery on Wednesday and then begin the road to recovery.
It is unfortunate for Gardeck, who is scheduled to be a restricted free agent.
He won’t likely be ready to play until the second half of the 2021 season.
The Cardinals have dealt with this before, though. Receiver Jaron Brown tore his ACL in the season he was set to become a restricted free agent. They signed him to a deal that was roughly equal what the restricted free agent tender would have been.
Gardeck has overcome a lot already in his career. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him come back and be even better.
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