ARIZONA CARDINALS

Arizona Cardinals’ Tyrann Mathieu listed among Pete Prisco’s breakout players for 2015

May 28, 2015, 7:47 AM | Updated: 7:47 am

LISTEN: Pete Prisco, Senior NFL Columnist for CBSSports.com

Anybody who watched the Arizona Cardinals last season could see that Tyrann Mathieu wasn’t himself.

After a promising rookie season ended with a devastating knee injury in November of 2013, Mathieu was on the field in 13 games last season. But his numbers were down substantially in every major statistical category, including a 44 percent decrease in total tackles.

A healthy Mathieu can be a big plus for the Cardinals in 2015, and CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco knows it.

The veteran writer has put out his list of 20 breakout players to watch in 2015, and Mathieu is featured prominently.

Prisco writes:

When he’s been on the field, he’s been effective. He’s smart, tough and tenacious. But he had a major knee injury in 2013 that limited him early last season and then a thumb injury late in the season. He’s healthy now and should be a big part of the defense because of his ability to play different spots.

In an interview with Bickley and Marotta on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM last week, Prisco elaborated on Mathieu.

“Honey Badger was a shell of his former self for most of last season,” he said. “He’s a damn good football player when he’s on the field.”

Mathieu was the only Cardinals player on the list, which included Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles and Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams.

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