Cardinals’ Nkemdiche expected to miss 2-3 weeks with calf strain
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche will see a bit of a stunt in his preseason progress as he'll be sidelined 2-3 weeks with a calf strain.
Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche stands on the sidelines against the Oakland Raiders during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 20-10. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Second-year defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche has been one of the most talked-about Arizona Cardinals this preseason.
The term “disruptive” has been used more than once to describe the 2016 first-round pick’s play in Arizona’s practices and first three preseason games.
Nkemdiche was the talk of practice on Tuesday too, but not for a good reason.
He limped off the practice field midway through the session and didn’t return.
Mike Jurecki of 98.7 FM, Arizona Sports Station has learned that Nkemdiche suffered a left calf strain and is expected to miss two to three weeks because of it.
This obviously puts Nkemdiche’s status up in the air for the Cardinals’ season opener against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sept. 10. A two-week absence would have the Ole Miss product back on the field Sept. 6, four days before the opener.
The 22-year-old has been productive in the preseason, with six total tackles in 69 snaps played on defense.
Nkemdiche was limited by an ankle injury and ineffectiveness as a rookie last season, playing a total of 82 defensive snaps.
Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians announced Wednesday that Nkemdiche is officially day-to-day.
“Robert strained a calf, he’ll be day-to-day,” Arians said. “We’ll see how long it takes, but he’ll be in a boot for a minute; won’t play this week for sure; won’t take a risk with that.”
Arians, “We’ll see how long it takes” re: Nkemdiche strained calf, officially day-to-day#CardsCamp
— Craig Grialou (@CraigAZSports) August 23, 2017
Arians, “It shouldn’t set him back at all” re: Nkemdiche; wasn’t going to play last preseason game any way#CardsCamp
— Craig Grialou (@CraigAZSports) August 23, 2017
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Comments
15 Comments
Olsen Pierre has been a beast, and so has Anau. My concern for the Cardinals is David Johnson's vegan diet, hope he reads some more and realize how unhealthy that is for someone with as much muscular exertion as a Running Back.
No, I am nurse practitioner who has worked in a private practice for the last 10yrs, I know what I'm talking about. A Grade 1 calf muscle strain isn't a big deal, in 10-15 days he will be fine.
Woaaa woaaa woad, slow your horses. I think you are overreacting just a tad. A calf strain occurs as a result of these muscles being torn or pulled. When a muscle is stretched, small micro tears occur in the muscle fibres. Unless it is extremely severe, their is no internal bleeding. Its the grade 2 or god forbid grade 3's that start to get sketchy.
Giving the Cardinals are saying he has a time table of recovery of roughly 2 weeks, Nkimdiche has a very common grade 1 calf muscle strain which was extremely likely caused by the over use of his calf muscles.
Given how young Nkimdiche is, with rest and rehab as long as he takes care of himself, Nkimdiche will recover very fast & shouldn't have any problem recovering in 10-15 Days.
Given how close we are to opening day to tell you the truth I would much rather shut the 6"4/297pd Robert Nkimdiche down for the rest of the pre-season, he is such a key integral part of the defensive line we cannot afford for him to get injured in a meaningless pre-season game. Nkimdiche has shown that he has massively improved now that he has a full understanding of the defensive playbook and has been utterly dominant at the point of attack all T-Camp and Pre-Season long, all that matters is having healthy for the games that count!!!!