ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals’ Jalen Thompson suffers ankle injury in Week 1 vs. 49ers

Sep 13, 2020, 1:53 PM | Updated: Sep 14, 2020, 7:45 am

Second-year Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson warms up at State Farm Stadium on Monday, Aug. ...

Second-year Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson warms up at State Farm Stadium on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. (Kevin Zimmerman/Arizona Sports)

(Kevin Zimmerman/Arizona Sports)

On the first drive of the season, the Arizona Cardinals were hit by the injury bug.

Safety Jalen Thompson played the opening snaps against the San Francisco 49ers before exiting the game with an ankle injury, the team announced.

His return was questionable midway through the first quarter and he did not re-enter the game.

Thompson was walking on one foot to get to the trainer’s table, according to Santa Rosa Press Democrat reporter Phil Barber, and backup Chris Banjo entered the game for Thompson, finishing the game with six tackles.

Thompson is seen by the Cardinals as a player who could break out this season.

A rookie supplemental draft pick last year, Thompson became a starter alongside Budda Baker by the end of the season.

In 15 appearances, nine of which were starts, Thompson had 57 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery with a QB hit. That came despite playing only 54% of available snaps.

This offseason, Thompson said he put on eight to 10 pounds of weight.

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