Cardinals OG Evan Mathis likely done for season, eyes retirement
Oct 10, 2016, 1:36 PM | Updated: 3:57 pm
Arizona Cardinals guard Evan Mathis (69) during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals offensive guard Evan Mathis is most likely lost for the season due to an ankle injury, and it sounds like the veteran is already eyeing retirement.
NFL.com’s Adam Caplan reported Monday morning that Mathis, who turns 35 years old on Nov. 1, said he isn’t going to give it another go next year.
#AzCardinals G Evan Mathis to me on possibly playing next season: "I'm only going to play if someone lets me be a third down pass rusher."
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) October 9, 2016
Arizona head coach Bruce Arians added Monday that there isn’t a good shot at the guard returning this season after undergoing surgery on his ankle and being placed on the injured reserve.
“I would doubt that he would be able to recover,” Arian told Bickley and Marotta on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM on Monday.
Mathis also injured his foot in Week 1 and suffered through turf toe in Week 2, which caused him to miss Week 3. He returned for Week 4 and injured his ankle in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Rams.
When Cardinals general manager Steve Keim joined Doug and Wolf on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM on Monday, he left the door open for Mathis to return this season. But Arians indicated later to reporters that Mathis was less likely to beat running back Chris Johnson and safety Tyvon Branch off the injured reserve list.
If Mathis wraps his career after what would have been his 12th season, he finishes with two Pro Bowl appearances, one Super Bowl ring (2015) and one First-Team All-Pro selection.
Mathis signed with the Cardinals this offseason on a deal that The Ringer called a bargain at a value of $1,000,069, a total he found funny. Mathis wore the No. 69 jersey with Arizona.
