The Arizona Cardinals will begin training camp without three key members of their defensive line after placing Walter Nolen, Bilal Nichols, and BJ Ojulari on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Wednesday.
Nolen, the 16th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, suffered a calf injury while training at the team facility, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The injury is expected to sideline him for most, if not all, of training camp, and could stretch into the regular season.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed Nolen’s injury but declined to offer a timetable. “(He's) going to miss some time,” Gannon told reporters Wednesday. “He's working hard to get back,” Gannon noted that the team is still evaluating whether Nolen will be ready by Week 1.
The injury is a tough early blow for a player expected to make an immediate impact on a defense that overachieved in 2024 despite limited talent up front. Arizona was relying on a revamped line to take a major step forward this season. The team invested heavily in the unit during the offseason, signing veterans Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Calais Campbell, and drafting Nolen and Oregon’s Jordan Burch to round out a deeper, more physical front. Nolen was projected to compete for a starting role as an interior pass rusher and run-stopper.
He’s not the only key piece missing from camp, however. Arizona also placed two other defensive contributors, tackle Bilal Nichols (neck) and 2023 second-round pick BJ Ojulari (knee), on the PUP list as they continue recovering from season-ending injuries sustained last year.
Ojulari had just begun earning first-team reps in training camp last summer when he suffered a torn ACL during a routine play. He was poised for a breakout season after showing promise as a versatile outside linebacker. The injury halted his momentum and left a noticeable gap in the Cardinals’ pass rush that lingered throughout 2024.
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Nichols, a veteran interior lineman signed to bring stability and experience up front, was also lost midway through the season due to a neck injury. He landed on injured reserve alongside kicker Matt Prater in December and did not return.
With three potential starters sidelined, the Cardinals’ depth along the defensive line will be tested early and often. The team opens its preseason slate in two weeks, but it remains uncertain whether any of the three will be cleared in time to participate.