The injury bug hit the Arizona Cardinals hard this week with the loss of Darnell Dockett for the season. Some good news was much needed for the team and its fans, which got delivered Wednesday, as the team announced safety Tyrann Mathieu has been taken off the PUP list.
Mathieu, the Cardinals’ 2013 third-round draft pick, suffered a season-ending ACL and MCL injury in a game last year against the St. Louis Rams. He had 68 tackles, two interceptions and one forced fumble in 13 games during his rookie year. The crowd cheered very loud seeing the number 32 on the field again.
When asked if there were any worries or concerns in returning, Mathieu replied “I am more worried about my confidence going against Larry (Fitzgerald), going against elite receivers.” The high energy safety anticipates having to fight himself to take things slow, “That’s my competitive drive,” he said. “With our secondary this year, we are very talented. So for me to go out there and not go as hard, that’d disrespect those guys. I want to be 100 percent.”
Throughout the stadium you could sense the anxiety, in hope that the second year safety does not have any set-backs. Mathieu was held out of live competition as he only did the conditioning drills with the team. Wearing his usual cut-off practice jersey and shaded dark shield on his helmet, there was a new look honey badger with some added equipment, wearing a big bulky brace strapped to his left knee.
Sometimes following a serious injuries, players need something that will give them confidence that they will be able to hold up under the stress of a practice. As for Tyrann, it seems he knows there may still be some obstacles to overcome, “I am just waiting for that moment when I really get tested and I will know for sure if I am the same player,” Mathieu said.
Also making a return from an ACL injury was much needed nose-tackle Alameda Ta’amu, whom was very effective last year in a back-up role to Dan Williams. Ta’amus’ presence is welcomed in the wake of the Dockett injury and the fact that the team will need some muscle to plug up the opponents running gaps.
Needless to say that both of these players return is a site for sour eyes, as the team prepares to go into its third (and most important) preseason game this Sunday night against the Cincinnati Bengals. It is highly unlikely we will see either of them in that game, but just having them back was very refreshing to a defense that seemed depleted.
Photo Credit: Mike Yduarte
