Cardinals DE Markus Golden expects increased playing time in Week 4
Sep 27, 2018, 8:46 PM
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Markus Golden (44) lines up against the Green Bay Packers during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)
(Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)
Arizona Cardinals defensive end Markus Golden was a big loss for the team after he tore his right ACL in October of 2017. But with his return to NFL action on Sunday against the Bears, his 12 snaps were just the beginning.
Golden expects to see a bump in playing time when the Cardinals host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in Week 4.
“I think it will be a big increase, ’cause I’m feeling real good,” he said on the Big Red Rage from Majerle’s in Chandler on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station on Thursday. “I’ve been getting more reps in practice and I’m feeling good. Like I said, been working hard every day, my knee getting better, been taking great care of it. I’ll be ready to go soon.”
Golden didn’t record a sack or tackle against Chicago, but his return to the field in itself was an important step forward for an 0-3 Cardinals team.
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“I feel like I’m alright,” he said. “For me not to be playing football for a year, I feel pretty good. Of course you always going to get out there and want to do more, especially after a loss. But I feel like I’m in a good place, I’ve just got to keep on working.”
The 25-year-old had a big year in his most recent full season of football, 2016, when he played 16 games and recorded 12.5 sacks with 51 tackles and four forced fumbles.
“Of course, going into the first week I was thinking about [the knee], people being around your legs,” he said. “But after a while I do get going and playing, ’cause you can’t be out there and play scared. So I get out there, I’ve been feeling good and feeling like myself, and I feel like I’ll be alright.”
Offensive lineman D.J. Humphries, who was one of the hosts of the Big Red Rage episode and is also coming off of an injury (a knee injury he suffered in November last year) had similar things to say about his own comeback.
“I remember that early phase of when I first started coming back and being on the grass and what it felt like, and kind of just being a little antsy,” Humphries said. “But over time, once you feel a couple awkward positions, you begin to trust that you have that feeling again where you’ll be fine and you’ll be strong.”
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