Cardinals Coach Says Rookie DL Kaleb Proctor (Meniscus) Could Miss Season
Mike LaFleur said the fourth-round pick could miss the entire 2026 season after the injury at organized team activities.
- On Wednesday, Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur announced that rookie defensive tackle Kaleb Proctor suffered a torn meniscus during OTAs and could miss the entire 2026 season.
- Proctor, a fourth-round pick from the Southeastern Louisiana Lions, had a breakout 2025 season recording 43 tackles and 13 tackles for loss, making him a prospect the Cardinals expected to compete immediately.
- The Cardinals are managing concurrent defensive injuries: Walter Nolen is recovering from a meniscus tear, and linebacker Karson Sharar suffered a substantial hamstring injury early in OTAs, straining interior defensive line depth.
- Faced with defensive gaps, the Cardinals front office may scour the free agent market for a replacement, particularly since the team used five of seven draft picks on offensive players.
- Cornerback Garrett Williams is recovering ahead of schedule from a torn Achilles and may be ready for Week 1, providing a defensive boost as LaFleur said, "We got great news on Garrett.
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Cardinals' rookie Kaleb Proctor tears meniscus, in jeopardy of missing 2026 season
GLENDALE – The Arizona Cardinals rookie curse strikes once again, as 2026 fourth-round pick Kaleb Proctor is in jeopardy of missing his rookie season. For the past few years, Arizona rookies would suffer a major setback before making their debut. In 2024, it was Darius Robinson, and last season it was Walter Nolen. Now, another rookie defensive lineman suffers a significant injury in Proctor. Head coach Mike LaFleur confirms on Wednesday that th…
Cardinals Rookie DT Kaleb Proctor To Miss
As the Cardinals transition to Mike LaFleur as head coach, they retained defensive coordinator Nick Rallis from the Jonathan Gannon period. Rallis’ unit has notable question marks along the defensive line, as the jury is still out on recent first-rounders Walter Nolen and Darius Robinson. Arizona, which lost Calais Campbell in free agency, made another investment in the position early in the fourth round by selecting Southeastern Louisiana’s Kal…
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