ARIZONA CARDINALS

‘Heart of Cardinals defense’ Jordan Hicks more than deserving of DPOW

Dec 8, 2021, 3:44 PM
Jordan Hicks #58 and Budda Baker #3 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrate after Hicks sacked Andy Dalt...
Jordan Hicks #58 and Budda Baker #3 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrate after Hicks sacked Andy Dalton #14 of the Chicago Bears during the second half at Soldier Field on December 05, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Cardinals linebacker Jordan Hicks is having a career year in Arizona.

After earning the right as the team’s starting MIKE backer despite the addition of rookie Zaven Collins and his offseason anointment that came with it, Hicks has thrived in his third season under head coach Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, both on and off the field.

“There’s nobody I respect more in this league, really, as a person, watching how he handled that with grace, poise and professionalism that he used throughout that process,” Kingsbury said Wednesday.

“It’s a business for all of us and we understand that and there’s decisions that have to be made and sometimes they don’t go the way you want. But he worked his tail off and has come out and had a tremendous season. Couldn’t be more happy for him.”

Entering Week 14’s Monday Night Football matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, Hicks paces the team in tackles with 95 and sits among the top 20 in that category league-wide. With five more tackles, Hicks will have recorded at least 100 in all three seasons he’s been in Arizona.

The linebacker hasn’t stopped there, setting a new career high in sacks with five to go along with four passes defensed, a forced fumble and a five QB hits.

Hicks turned in his best effort of 2021 so far this past Sunday in Chicago, recording a season-high 13 tackles, two sacks and two QB hits in the 33-22 victory over the Bears.

“He’s the heart of our defense and he is the quarterback of the defense,” Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones said Wednesday. “It’s his job to get everyone right and nine times out of 10, he’s gonna be the one who sees it first. … Having Jordan on our defense is very helpful and very advantageous for us for sure.”

For his play, Hicks was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week, the sixth weekly award an Arizona player has received this year.

It’s no surprise to his coaches and teammates, who see firsthand just how dedicated the linebacker is to his craft.

“Jordan is a player that — he’s gonna show up and ball every Sunday. And one thing I will put my word on this, that’s what he’ll do,” Jones said. “So despite of whatever happened to him in the offseason or whatever the situation may be, I feel like Jordan is a guy that he’s gonna come out and play and I knew he was gonna come out and do what he’s doing this season.

“I’ve been excited watching Jordan … so [winning NFC DPOW] is just another one for our defense and for Jordan that’s huge, so hats off to him and hopefully he can keep that going.”

Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury looks downfield as his team warms up before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray smiles as he warms up before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks) Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy, left, listens to free safety Eddie Jackson during warm ups before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles (9) walks with Jesper Horsted during warm ups before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton warms up before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, right, scrambles aways for pressure by Chicago Bears nose tackle Eddie Goldman during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, left, catches a touchdown pass from quarterback Kyler Murray as Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson defends during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) celebrates his touchdown with running back James Conner (6) as tight end Zach Ertz watches during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Arizona Cardinals free safety Jalen Thompson celebrates with teammates his interception of a Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton pass during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks) Arizona Cardinals free safety Jalen Thompson celebrates with teammates his interception of a Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton pass during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks) Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton hands the ball off to running back David Montgomery during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) leaps over Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton after Baker intercepted a Dalton pass during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks) Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) heads downfield after intercepting a pass by Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks) Chicago Bears fans watch their team play against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) carries the ball in the open field as Chicago Bears inside linebacker Danny Trevathan pursues during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks) Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy talks to back judge Steve Patrick during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) tries to elude the grasp of Chicago Bears cornerback Artie Burns as A.J. Green ties to block Burns during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks) Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery (32) stiff arms Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Jordan Hicks during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray warms up before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Arizona Cardinals

Krys Barnes #51 of the Green Bay Packers breaks up a pass intended for Devine Ozigbo #28 of the New...
Alex Weiner

Cardinals agree to 1-year deal with former Packers LB Krys Barnes

The Arizona Cardinals agreed to terms with 24-year-old inside linebacker Krys Barnes on a one-year contract, the team announced on Saturday.
1 day ago
Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals lines up during the NFL game against the...
Wills Rice

Report: Cardinals may want ‘Christian McCaffrey package’ for DeAndre Hopkins

The Cardinals are sticking to their guns in asking for a second round pick for wideout DeAndre Hopkins, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported.
1 day ago
Defensive back Christian Gonzalez #0 of the Oregon Ducks returns an interception in the third quart...
Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ mock draft scenarios: Arizona deals the No. 3 pick

Trade the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft or keep it? That’s the question Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort will have to answer soon enough.
2 days ago
Arizona Cardinals' owner Michael Bidwill, left, new head coach Jonathan Gannon center, and general ...
Tyler Drake

NFL dates to remember and how they relate to the Cardinals

As Arizona's new regime gets to work on rebuilding the organization, a look at the key dates of the offseason to circle on the calendar.
2 days ago
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Zach Pascal (3) warms up during Super Bowl LVII between the Kansa...
Wills Rice

New Cardinals WR Zach Pascal hungry to take whatever role necessary with team

New Cardinals WR Zach Pascal reunites with Jonathan Gannon for the third time and is ready for whatever role he's needed to play in 2023.
2 days ago
Josh Woods #51 of the Detroit Lions celebrates during the second half against the New York Jets at ...
Tyler Drake

Arizona Cardinals agree to terms with LB Josh Woods on 1-year deal

The Arizona Cardinals and former Detroit Lions linebacker Josh Woods agreed to terms on a one-year deal, the team announced Thursday.
3 days ago
‘Heart of Cardinals defense’ Jordan Hicks more than deserving of DPOW