Cardinals DE Zach Allen had ankle surgery following season

Arizona Cardinals defensive end Zach Allen played a career-high 15 games this past season, his third in the NFL.

He had to muscle through them, though.

Allen tweeted on Friday evening that he underwent surgery to treat an injured ankle, one he played on all season.

Surgery was a success! All season, I was playing on a torn up ankle, but now that’s behind me. Can’t wait to get back for 2022 at 100%. God is Great! #RedSea

— Zach Allen (@TheZALLEN44) January 29, 2022

He missed two games while on the COVID-19 reserve list but none due to injury in 2021.

The defensive end only showed up on the injury report three times: during the final two weeks of the regular season and in the playoffs. He was designated with an ankle injury.

Allen was questionable for Arizona’s Week 17 and 18 matchups but played in both.

Despite the injury, Allen had his most productive season yet. He set career-highs with four sacks and 14 quarterback hits in 14 starts.

He also scored his first NFL touchdown on a fumble recovery in Week 18, and he unleashed his sack dance.

DO THE ZACH ALLEN DANCE pic.twitter.com/Xg0FOBtTHm

— Burns and Gambo on 98.7 FM (@BurnsAndGambo) January 9, 2022

“Personally, I think I took some steps, definitely played more consistent,” Allen told reporters after the season. “I still have a lot more to do.”

Allen, a 2019 third-round pick from Boston College, has one more season on his rookie contract.

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