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Arizona Cardinals DST

Player Outlook
The Cardinals defense was among the worst in the NFL in 2025, and we don't expect things to change much in 2026. We don't recommend drafting the Cardinals DST in the majority of leagues. Last season, Arizona was No. 29 in sacks (30), No. 6 in most yards allowed (6,081) and No. 3 in most points allowed (470). Safety Budda Baker is the star on defense, but this is a unit that needs to make dramatic improvements this season before Fantasy managers can trust them. Keep an eye on what develops this season, and the Cardinals DST can be a waiver-wire addition as the year goes on if the defense somehow surprises us compared to what happened in 2025.

Fantasy News

  • Cardinals' PJ Mustipher: Placed on injured reserve

    Rotowire
    The Cardinals placed Mustipher (foot) on injured reserve Saturday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports. Mustipher is officially done for the season due to the issue. The defensive tackle is coming off a career year and will be unable to maintain his reserve role with the team in 2026.
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  • Cardinals' Jaden Davis: Lands on injured reserve

    Rotowire
    The Cardinals placed Davis (undisclosed) on injured reserve Friday. The nature of Davis' injury has not been announced, but now that he's on IR, he'll be forced to miss the entire 2026 season unless he reaches an injury settlement with the Cardinals. He appeared in each of the Cardinals' last three games of the 2025 regular season, logging three tackles (two solo) in that span.
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  • Cardinals' Joey Blount: Participating in training camp

    Rotowire
    Blount (neck/concussion) was an active participant in Tuesday's training camp practice, per Ross D. Franklin of the Associated Press. Blount suffered a season-ending neck injury during the Cardinals' Week 1 game against the Saints in 2025, but he has recovered from the injury and is battling for a roster spot in training camp. If Blount does make the 53-man roster, then he'll likely be limited to work on special teams while providing depth in the secondary.
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  • Cardinals' Mack Wilson: Participating in training camp

    Rotowire
    Mack Wilson is participating in the Cardinals' training camp, Jess Root of cardswire.com reports. Wilson seems to have recovered from his rib injury and is all set to take the field. The middle linebacker has already resumed his duties as the starter for the Cardinals' defense. The 28-year-old veteran player has been playing alongside both Cody Simon and Jack Gibbens as the two battle for reps at linebacker.
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  • Cardinals' Kaleb Proctor: Won't play this season

    Rotowire
    Proctor (knee) is expected to miss the entire 2026 campaign, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports. Proctor tore the meniscus in his knee during OTAs and was placed on IR on Wednesday. Coach Mike LaFleur confirmed Friday that Proctor, whom Arizona drafted in the fourth round of April's NFL Draft, isn't going to be able to get back on the field this season. He'll therefore have to wait until 2027 to make his professional debut.
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  • Cardinals' Josh Sweat: Knee injury not considered serious

    Rotowire
    Sweat (knee), who was placed on the active/PUP list Thursday, isn't dealing with a serious injury, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports. Sweat's placement on the PUP list was a surprise given his participation in mandatory minicamp in early June, but coach Mike LaFleur described the transaction, along with the PUP placement of left tackle Paris Johnson Jr., as "really just maintenance." LaFleur also said that Sweat is "fired up" to be at training camp and is "in great spirits and feeling good." It sounds like Sweat should be a full-go by the beginning of the regular season, and he'll look to build upon the career-high 12.0 sacks he recorded across 17 games last year.
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  • Cardinals' Walter Nolen: All set for training camp

    Rotowire
    Nolen is all set to participate in the Cardinals' training camp, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports. Nolen suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 16 of the 2025 season. He underwent surgery in late December to repair a torn meniscus and has made it all the way back to playing shape. The 2025 first-round pick is set to return to team activities and take the field alongside fellow defensive tackle Roy Lopez.
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  • Cardinals' Garrett Williams: Placed on PUP list

    Rotowire
    Williams (Achilles) was placed on the active/PUP list Thursday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports. Williams tore his Achilles in December 2025 and was not expected to be ready for training camp. The linebacker has a chance to return for the Cardinals' season opener against the Chargers and may be able to participate in the preseason. For now, the 25-year-old is still working through the recovery process.
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  • Cardinals' Josh Sweat: Beginning camp on PUP list

    Rotowire
    Sweat (undisclosed) was placed on the active/PUP list Thursday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports. Sweat was a healthy participant in the mandatory part of the Cardinals' offseason activities. The premier pass rusher has seemingly picked up an injury between June's program and training camp. Sweat logged 12.0 sacks for the team during the 2025 campaign, a career high good for eighth in the entire league. If the 29-year-old has sustained a significant injury, it could impact opening day participation and production for the Cardinals' defensive line.
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  • Cardinals' Kaleb Proctor: Goes to IR

    Rotowire
    Arizona placed Proctor (knee) on its injured reserve list Wednesday. Proctor sustained a meniscus tear during OTAs back in June, and now he's set to spend the entire 2026 season rehabbing. In his absence, veteran L.J. Collier could see his depth role on the interior of the defensive line expand compared to what was originally expected.
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  • Cardinals' Kaleb Proctor: Could miss entire 2026 season

    Rotowire
    Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur suggested Monday that Proctor (knee) could be out for the entire 2026 campaign, Zach Gershman of the team's official site reports. Proctor signed his four-year rookie contract Monday, but he may not see any action during the first season of the deal. The 22-year-old suffered a torn meniscus during OTAs in early June and is slated for an extended absence. Proctor had been expected to compete for a reserve role at defensive tackle prior to the injury.
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  • Cardinals' Karson Sharar: Dealing with hamstring issue

    Rotowire
    Sharar did not participate during OTAs due to a hamstring injury, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports. Coach Mike LaFleur said Wednesday that Sharar will be ready to go for training camp in July, so it doesn't seem to be a serious concern at this point. As the Cardinals' minicamp wraps up, rookie undrafted free agent Stephen Dix could see an uptick in practice reps during Sharar's absence.
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  • Cardinals' Walter Nolen: Expects to return for training camp

    Rotowire
    Coach Mike LaFleur said Wednesday that Nolen (knee) is trending towards being ready for training camp in July, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports. Nolen underwent surgery in December to repair a torn meniscus, so a return for training camp seems like a reasonable timeline. As long as he remains sidelined during practice, PJ Mustipher could see more work with the first-team defensive line.
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  • Cardinals' Kei'Trel Clark: Back for minicamp

    Rotowire
    Clark (back) was spotted participating in minicamp on Tuesday, Megan Mendoza of AZcentral.com reports. Clark finished Arizona's 2025 campaign on IR due to a back injury, but it now appears he's moved past the issue. He contributed on both defense (201 snaps) and special teams (168 snaps) last season, recording 25 total tackles, two passes defensed and one forced fumble across 14 appearances. Now fully healthy, Clark is expected to compete for a similar role as the offseason progresses.
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  • Cardinals' Kaleb Proctor: Tears meniscus

    Rotowire
    Head coach Mike LaFleur told reporters Wednesday that Proctor tore his meniscus during OTAs and will miss significant time, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports. Proctor, a 2026 fourth-round pick from Southeastern Louisiana, was expected to compete for Arizona's top reserve defensive-tackle spot prior to tearing his meniscus in OTAs. During his three final collegiate seasons, Proctor appeared in 36 contests and posted 24 tackles for loss, including 15.0 sacks.
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  • Cardinals' Garrett Williams: Returning for Week 1?

    Rotowire
    Head coach Mike LaFleur told reporters Wednesday that Williams (Achilles) could return for the Cardinals' regular-season opener, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports. Williams, who tore his Achilles in late December of 2025, is progressing better than expected and now has a chance to return for Arizona's Week 1 matchup against the Chargers on Sept. 13. The fourth-year pro from Syracuse was a crucial part of the Cardinals' secondary in 2025, recording 46 total tackles, five passes defensed, including one interception, and one forced fumble across just 10 contests.
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  • Cardinals' Josh Sweat: Back for mandatory minicamp

    Rotowire
    Sweat was present for the Cardinals' mandatory minicamp Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Sweat chose not to participate in Arizona's voluntary OTAs, but he's now returned for the mandatory part of the offseason program. The veteran edge rusher impressed during his first season with the Cardinals, appearing in all 17 games and posting 30 total tackles, including a career-high 12.0 sacks, four forced fumbles and two passes defensed. He's expected to remain one of the NFL's top pass rushers ahead of the 2026 season.
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  • Cardinals' Sean Murphy-Bunting: Practicing during OTAs

    Rotowire
    Murphy-Bunting (knee) has been participating during Cardinals OTAs and has been working as a nickel corner, Zach Gershman of the team's official site reports. Murphy-Bunting tore his ACL and also suffered some MCL damage last May and missed all of the 2025 season. Just over a year later, the veteran defender is back on the field during OTAs, and he's been taking on a different role in the nickel-corner spot. Murphy-Bunting has played mostly outside corner during his tenure in Arizona, but the team has a need in the slot with Garrett Williams expected to be out at the beginning of the campaign while recovering from a torn Achilles. Williams will presumably retake the role upon his return, but in the meantime, Murphy-Bunting should see plenty or work in the slot. He was ample experience there, having played the position frequently earlier in his career while with the Buccaneers.
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  • Cardinals' Isaiah Oliver: Gets signed by Cards

    Rotowire
    Arizona signed Oliver (knee) on Thursday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports. Oliver is now joining his fourth different team since he was selected by Atlanta in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Veteran Budda Baker, Andrew Wingard and 2024 fourth-rounder Dadrion Taylor-Demerson all project to make contributions at safety for Arizona in 2026, but the team was relatively thin at that position otherwise before adding Oliver.
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  • Cardinals' Walter Nolen: Will not practice to begin OTAs

    Rotowire
    Nolen (knee) did not participate in the Cardinals' OTA on Monday, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports. Nolen's absence for the start of OTAs comes after the 22-year-old suffered a non-contact knee injury in Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season. The second-year starter still faces an unclear timetable for his return, but time will tell if Nolen is ready for the start of the 2026 campaign.
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