Injury Will Sideline Cardinals’ Darnell Dockett for the Season

By Francisco Romero 

As the NFL season approaches, veterans start seeing more time in practice, drills and preseason games. One of the main reasons their limited action in contact drills is to avoid injury. 

Unfortunately for Arizona Cardinals’ Defensive Tackle Darnell Dockett an injury will keep him from playing this upcoming season.  Dockett tore his right ACL and will need surgery.

Darnell Dockett
Picture Courtesy of azcardinals.com

“People go down every day almost,” said defensive tackle Calais Campbell. “Sometimes it’s simple and they come right back into practice and sometimes it’s serious. It depends. In football, when people go down, you move the ball up and keep playing football. Since I was 6 years old playing the game, it’s always been when someone goes down, next man up.”

The veteran Dockett has played 10 seasons with the Cardinals almost injury free, missing only 2 weeks, playing in 158 0f 160 possible games.

Dockett’s injury will leave a big hole, but the Cardinals have the personnel to replace him.  Veteran Frostee Rucker is expected to take the bulk of the work while Kareem Martins will likely see some action. 

The loss of Dockett adds to the Cardinals issues on defense Karlos Dansby is no longer with the team as he was lost to free agency, Linebacker Daryl Washington is suspended and Safety Tyrann Mathieu is injured, he is expected to start practicing anytime.

Last year the Cardinals were ranked 6^th in defense and were the top team against the run.

Dockett had a great season last year as he finished with 59 tackles and 4.5 sacks. 

The Cardinals are coming off a loss to the Minnesota Vikings (28-30) after beating the Texans (32-0) in their first preseason game.  Arizona will take on the Cincinnati Bengals this upcoming week.