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It has been less than a year since Markus Golden tore his ACL against the San Francisco 49ers.
Yet, today he was a practice participant for the first time.
LB Markus Golden has returned to #AZCardinals practice. In open portion, T Andre Smith and DT Olsen Pierre were not taking part. pic.twitter.com/5WxI3jjgK6
— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) September 12, 2018
While head coach Steve Wilks preached patience and said it is unlikely that Golden will return this Sunday, not a surprise, his presence back on the practice field means he is getting closer, which also means the Arizona Cardinals will get a boost along their defensive line.
One of the strengths of Golden is not only his tenacious pass rushing ability, but he is adept at playing the run as well. In the Arizona Cardinals first game of the season, it was his presence against the run that was missed the most.
Along with Golden’s return, the other injury news is that starting right tackle Andre Smith, and key rotational defensive tackle Olsen Pierre both missed today’s practice.
Pierre was limited to four snaps against the Skins, likely because of that injury that kept him on the injury report all last week, while Smith left Sunday’s game with an elbow injury. Obviously the MRI came back okay, because Wilks called it day-to-day.
Wilks said T Andre Smith is day-to-day with his elbow. DE Markus Golden is still an unknown too, Wilks said, although the fact he just got back to practice after months off because of the ACL would seem to make him a longshot.
— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) September 12, 2018
Welcome back, Markus and good health moving forward.