ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals DL Nkemdiche leaves game vs. Saints with foot injury, doesn’t return

Aug 17, 2018, 8:40 PM | Updated: Aug 20, 2018, 8:01 am

Arizona Cardinals' Robert Nkemdiche warms up during an NFL football training camp Saturday, July 29...

Arizona Cardinals' Robert Nkemdiche warms up during an NFL football training camp Saturday, July 29, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche left Friday’s preseason game against the New Orleans Saints with a right foot injury and did not return.

In the second series of the game, Nkemdiche was battling with an offensive lineman when he began to hobble.

Nkemdiche came off the field under his own power. Defensive lineman Olsen Pierre, listed as Nkemdiche’s backup on the team’s unofficial depth chart, replaced Nkemdiche on the next series.

“We just wanted to pull Robert,” head coach Steve Wilks told 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station after the game.

“We didn’t want to press it. It’s something that he had earlier in the week. (A) little nagging injury there with his right foot.”

With Wilks implementing a 4-3 defense, the third-year defensive tackle Nkemdiche was looking toward a potential breakout 2018 in his natural position.

The Cardinals selected Nkemdiche with the 29th overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft. He has 12 career tackles through two seasons.

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New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith (10) pulls in a pass reception between Arizona Cardinals defensive back Bene' Benwikere (23) and defensive back A.J. Howard (42) in the first half of an NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) carries between Arizona Cardinals defensive back Bene' Benwikere (23) and defensive back Antoine Bethea (41) in the first half of an NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) New Orleans Saints defensive back J.T. Gray (48) tackles Arizona Cardinals tight end Gabe Holmes (85) in the first half of an NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) Arizona Cardinals running back D.J. Foster (37) carries as he is tackled by New Orleans Saints linebacker Alex Anzalone and linebacker A.J. Klein in the first half of an NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Jesse Hernandez, the first male member of the New Orleans Saints dance team "The Saintsations," performs in the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. He is one of the first male cheerleaders in the NFL. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Jesse Hernandez, the first male member of the New Orleans Saints dance team "The Saintsations," performs in the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. He is one of the first male cheerleaders in the NFL. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald laughs with New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) in the second half of an NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. The Cardinals won 20-15. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks greets New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, right, after an NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. The Cardinals won 20-15. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) New Orleans Saints tight end Garrett Griffin (45) can't pull in a two-point conversion as Arizona Cardinals defensive back Chris Campbell (33) covers in the second half of an NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. The Cardinals won 20-15. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) New Orleans Saints quarterback J.T. Barrett (5) carries four touchdown in the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. The Cardinlas won 20-15. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) celebrates his touchdown reception in the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) pulls in a touchdown reception as New Orleans Saints linebacker Manti Te'o covers in the first half of an NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) pulls in a touchdown reception as New Orleans Saints linebacker Manti Te'o covers in the first half of an NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandon Tate (87) fends off Arizona Cardinals defensive end Arthur Moats (93) in the first half of an NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk, right, celebrates his touchdown reception with wide receiver Chad Williams (10) and offensive tackle D.J. Humphries (74) in the first half of an NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) throws a shuffle pass under pressure from Arizona Cardinals defensive end Jacquies Smith in the first half of an NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks watches from the sideline in the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Chad Williams (10) pulls in a pass as New Orleans Saints cornerback Arthur Maulet (37) covers in the first half of an NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) passes in the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Sam Bradford (9) passes in the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) passes in the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Sam Bradford (9) passes under pressure from New Orleans Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) and wide receiver Ted Ginn (19) tackle Arizona Cardinals linebacker Haason Reddick (43) after an interception during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Arizona Cardinals linebacker Haason Reddick (43) intercepts a pass on a deflection by linebacker Demario Davis (56) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) New Orleans Saints running back Jonathan Williams (32) carries in the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) carries past Arizona Cardinals defensive end Benson Mayowa (91) in the first half of an NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) passes under pressure from Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Rodney Gunter in the first half of an NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

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