The Arizona Cardinals drafted Walter Nolen III with the 16th-overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
However, the talented rookie got injured during rookie training camp and missed the first seven weeks of the season.
On Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys, Nolen made his Cardinals and NFL debut, and did so in an emphatic way.
How did Walter Nolen III Feel About His Debut?
Nolen didn’t just make his NFL debut on Monday night; he shone in a debut that will go down in the Cardinals’ history books.
The rookie defensive lineman had four tackles, two pressures, two tackles for loss (TFL), a sack, and a pass defended. Nolen became the first player since TJ Watt in 2017, and just the fourth player in NFL history, with at least a sack, two TFLs, and a pass defended in his NFL debut.
Nolen helped the Cardinals’ defense put up their best defensive performance of the year, according to PFSN’s Defense Impact.
“That was amazing, man. It was even better that we got the dub,” Nolen said. “So, for me be able to go out there and have the performance that I did, on top of the win, it was surreal.”
This may have been the first time NFL fans got to see Nolen in action, but it wasn’t the first time his teammates saw what he could do.
Back during training camp, veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell gave his first impressions of the Cardinals’ rookie.
“I know Walter is a very talented guy, and he’s making his progress,” Campbell said. “When the time comes, I think the whole world is going to be excited for what he can do, including me.”
The start to Nolen’s NFL journey hit a roadblock during the offseason, but that never stopped him.
If anything, it made his debut even more special.
“At the beginning it was kind of rough because this was the first time in my career where I actually had like a real injury and I had to miss some time,” Nolen said. “The first couple of weeks was a little hectic, but once I just kind of just hit the ground and kept working, it started getting easier every day.”
Now, Nolen will have his NFL debut to talk about for years to come.
The Cardinals’ rookie got his first TFL on the Cowboys’ opening drive to force a fourth and goal and then got his first NFL sack late in the fourth quarter.
Nolen was everywhere in his NFL debut, and that’s only the beginning of what’s to come.
“It was amazing,” Nolen said. “I’m going to remember that for the rest of my life for sure, and for it to be on somebody like Dak, it was great.”
The rookie defensive lineman played 37 snaps in his first game back from injury, which was about 55% of the Cardinals’ defensive snaps.
It was slightly more than Arizona intended to use him, but he made big plays every time he was on the field. Now, he has his eyes set on Seattle in Week 10.
“Nah, I’m already onto next week, man. I can’t wait to get to Seattle and compete,” Nolen said. “I’m lucky enough to be able to go out there and perform like this, so I just go out there and try to get better every week.”
Nolen’s snaps should only increase from now on, barring any setbacks. Increased snaps for the rookie should only mean good things for the Cardinals’ defense, as he certainly made his presence felt in his NFL debut on Monday night.