The Arizona Cardinals’ defense made a statement on Monday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys, and it was led by rookie Walter Nolen III.
The Cardinals’ defensive lineman made his NFL debut on Monday night and did not disappoint. Arizona’s defense gave Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott fits all night long, and Nolen’s debut was so impressive that after the game, he took a shot at the Cowboys.
What Did Walter Nolen III Say about Dallas?
The Cardinals drafted Nolen with the 16th-overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he got hurt in rookie training camp. The talented rookie missed the first seven games of the season, but announced his presence in his NFL debut.
Nolen manhandled the Cowboys’ offensive line, collecting four tackles, two tackles for loss, two quarterback pressures, a sack and a pass defended.
After the game, Nolen took a shot at the Cowboys, who are known as “America’s Team.”
“What a better stage to do it in, especially in Dallas,” Nolen said. “They supposed to be America’s Team. It didn’t look like it that way.”
The Cowboys’ offense has been clicking on all cylinders all year long. Dallas has the No. 5 offense in the NFL, according to PFSN’s Offense Impact, even after the Cardinals shut it down in Week 9.
Nolen also finished No. 6 on PFSN’s DT Impact rankings for Week 9. The Cardinals’ rookie made his debut and showed out.
“I mean, that’s all I know how to do is play fast and violent,” Nolen said. “I feel like I brought that to the defense this week, and I’m going to continue to do that every week.”
The Cardinals’ rookie also impressed his fellow defensive tackle and veteran leader, Calais Campbell. Campbell spoke with Nolen over film before his debut, and the rookie not only made plays for himself but also opened the path for Campbell to make plays as well.
“He has really good instincts. He’s tough. I like seeing him in the pass-rushing roles, getting up field,” Campbell said. “Obviously, there’s still room for improvement and stuff, but I remember just kind of talking to him on the film, and he responded really well to what I was saying and I think it led to, you know, me having some more success too, which is nice.
“Walt is just a good, young, talented player. You can never have too many talented guys to help us win ballgames.”
Campbell laughed and said opening up plays for him wasn’t the point of the film, but that’s the type of impact the rookie had.
He was also one of numerous rookies who came up big on Monday night. Cornerback Will Johnson had another strong game, fellow cornerback Denzel Burke filled in and had an interception, and linebacker Cody Simon filled in for Mack Wilson Sr. late in the game and forced a fumble.
“It made me feel like the future of this team is safe,” Nolen said on the rookies’ play on Monday night. “A lot of the time, all of us were out there at the same time making plays, so it was great.”
The rookies made their impact felt on Monday night, and they’ll need to continue that positive momentum into Week 10 against a stout Seattle Seahawks offense.
Johnson, Wilson, and cornerback Max Melton will be out, so Burke, Simon, and third-year cornerback Kei’Trel Clark will be leaned on heavily.