ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals’ Okafor disappointed about lost season, opportunity

Sep 25, 2013, 10:19 PM | Updated: Sep 26, 2013, 6:50 pm

After the Arizona Cardinals lost two of their starting outside linebackers for the season, rookie Alex Okafor was set for a bump in playing time. Unfortunately, the opportunity was short lived as the team announced on Tuesday Okafor tore a tendon in his biceps and will miss the rest of the 2013 season.

Despite the injury, Okafor, a fourth round draft pick out of Texas, remains optimistic.

“I was a little disappointed, it was my opportunity to kind of step in and help the team out but unfortunate things happen,” Okafor said. “It’s in the past and I just got to look forward to next season.”

Okafor added he could have tried to play through the injury but decided it was in his best interest to have the surgery.

“At this point in my career, it wasn’t worth playing through,” Okafor said. “I still have a lot of football left in me and I don’t want that to be a hampering injury throughout my career.”

The injury occurred during Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints on a special teams play. Okafor attempted to grab an opposing player, but the Saint, “kind of ran through my arm, kind of overextended it and it popped.” He said the adrenaline numbed the pain until after the game, at which point he knew something was wrong.

The Arizona Cardinals Broadcast Department contributed to this report

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

15 hours ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

18 hours ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Cardinals’ Okafor disappointed about lost season, opportunity