Cardinals get good injury news on Walter Nolen, Garrett Williams

When Walter Nolen walked off the practice field with a trainer on Friday, July 31, it was natural to assume the worst. Nolan dealt with three separate injuries a year ago — including a season-ending torn meniscus — on a team that set unwanted NFL records in the health department. “Oh no, here we go again,” seemed to be the sentiment, and understandably so.

>But this time, Nolen avoided injury and returned to practice for the Cardinals next session on Sunday, Aug. 2.

>“He was not comfortable in that knee that he had an issue with a year ago,” head coach Mike LaFleur said. “So checked it all out; everything looked good.”

>“I’m great,” Nolen said. “It was just a little hiccup.”

>The Cardinals also avoided the worst with safety Joey Blount, who went down with a stinger in Friday’s practice. Blount will continue to sit out, as the Cardinals proceed cautiously due to his lengthy history with head and neck injuries, but it does not sound as if he will miss extended time.

Garrett Williams progressing toward returnThe positive injury news August 2 wasn’t limited to those two.

>Nickel cornerback Garrett Williams tore his Achilles last December, and initially seemed to be on track for a mid-season return this fall. But during spring practices, LaFleur said that Williams had a chance to return in time for Week 1.

>LaFleur confirmed that remains a possibility — and seemingly a strong one.

>“I feel really good about that,” LaFleur said. “He's feeling better every single day, and I love the approach of that guy. You talk about clockwork. At 6 a.m. every morning, he's walking in that building, doing what Garrett does. That's just how he's wired.”

>With Williams sidelined, the Cardinals converted outside cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting to nickel this spring, a role in which he has not seen significant time since 2022.

>Murphy-Bunting has earned positive reviews from the coaching staff at his new position, but Williams — at his best — is one of the Cardinals’ more impactful defensive players. He never quite reached that level last season, partly due to injuries, but was a key part of the Cardinals’ defensive success in 2024.

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Josh Sweat situation remains murkyWhen edge rusher Josh Sweat stood on the sidelines during mandatory minicamp back in early June, the company line — from head coach Mike LaFleur — was that Sweat needed time to get his legs under him. It seemed reasonable, given that Sweat had missed all of voluntary organized team activities, as he historically prefers to do his offseason work with personal trainers.

>But two months later, Sweat is still on the physically unable to perform list. And when asked about Sweat on Sunday, LaFleur remained coy.

>“Continuing to build,” LaFleur said, adding that he doesn’t have a timeline for Sweat’s return.

>Earlier this offseason, reports surfaced that Sweat is unhappy in Arizona, following the firing of Jonathan Gannon and on a team with low expectations for this season. LaFleur, though, has dismissed the notion that Sweat is discontent.

>This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals get good injury news on Walter Nolen, Garrett Williams