Darius Robinson Injures Calf, Could Land On Injured Reserve
Arizona Cardinals defensive end Darius Robinson (calf) could miss multiple weeks after injuring himself during practice on Thursday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. There's a real chance that Robinson, a rookie, could be placed on injured reserve. Such a transaction would leave Robinson off the field for the first four weeks of the regular season. That's a crushing blow for the first-round lineman who recently drew the praise of head coach Jonathan Gannon and was expected to be a major contributor on defense this season. Robinson tallied 43 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks during his final season at Missouri last year.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has confidently stated that first-round rookie defensive end Darius Robinson has a "1,000 percent" chance of earning a starting role. The rookie defensive lineman, selected 27th overall by the Cardinals, made a strong impression in his preseason debut against the New Orleans Saints. Robinson's performance included a tackle and a quarterback pressure in ten snaps during the Cardinals' 16-14 loss on Saturday. His first play saw him tackle running back Alvin Kamara, marking his initial impact on the game. Robinson reflected on this moment, saying, "I'm ready to give my all each day, but it really hit me when I tackled Kamara. It was like, 'Alright, I'm here, ready, and focused.'" While Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones seem to be the leading candidates for the starting defensive end spots, Robinson's high draft position suggests he will be a crucial player for the Cardinals in the future. When he assumes a starting role, it may depend on his continued performance and development.
The Arizona Cardinals selected Missouri defensive end Darius Robinson with the 27th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night. Robinson was a late bloomer for the Tigers in college and sometimes disappeared from games, but in the end, the pass-rusher was a first-team All-SEC performer as a fifth-year senior in 2023 after recording 8.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in 2023. Robinson weighed in at 285 pounds and has long arms and plenty of power to push his way to opposing quarterbacks. He's also serviceable in the run game and will compete for plenty of playing time right away in the desert in 2024 next to Zaven Collins and BJ Ojulari. Robinson is powerful but is going to need to develop his repertoire to have success in the NFL.
Darius Robinson
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Cardinals
