The Arizona Cardinals finished their seventh open practice on Sunday, which happened to be their annual Red and White Practice. Their last two open practices will be held next Tuesday and Wednesday. They will also have their first preseason game against the New Orleans Saints next Saturday at 5:00 P.M. MST at State Farm Stadium.
One issue that the Cardinals will address throughout camp is their pass rush.
The Arizona Cardinals’ pass rush struggled in 2023
The Cardinals hope to improve a pass rush that finished at the bottom in quarterback hits, pressures, sacks, and pass rush win rate. They ranked 32nd in hits, 31st in pressures, 30th in sacks, and 28th in pass rush win rate.
Their top three leading sackers last season were Dennis Gardeck, BJ Ojulari, and Victor Dimukeje. Gardeck had six sacks, while Ojulari and Dimukeje had four.
Unfortunately, one of their young pass rushers suffered a serious injury.
The Arizona Cardinals second-year player suffered a significant knee injury
BJ Ojulari suffered an apparent knee injury during their practice on Friday. He was carted off the field and underwent tests to determine the severity. Unfortunately, the worst happened, as he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee and will miss the entire 2024 season.
Ojulari, a 2nd-round pick from last season, didn’t play much as a rookie but showed promise in 37% of defensive snaps. He entered the offseason in the mix for the starting EDGE rusher job and a potential breakout candidate.
Who will replace BJ Ojulari?
Dennis Gardeck will likely start alongside Zaven Collins in the absence of Ojulari. Gardeck, a former undrafted free agent from 2018, enters his seventh year in the league and led the team in sacks a season ago. He enters a crucial 2024 season since he’s in the final year of his 3-year, $10 million contract and will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
The Arizona Cardinals must rely on a former 6th-round pick
Victor Dimukeje’s role will likely increase in 2024. After barely playing in his first two seasons, Dimukeje saw a slight increase in snaps, representing 37% of defensive snaps and starting six games in Year 3. He faces a crucial 2024 season as he will be an unrestricted free agent in 2025.
