Karlos Dansby suddenly finds himself as one of the keys to the entire Arizona Cardinals defense
Injuries are an unpleasant, but unavoidable part of football. The Arizona Cardinals have already been shown this to be true this offseason. Linebacker Deone Bucannon had ankle surgery, and might not be ready for the start of the season. This leaves the team lacking in experience in the middle.
Earlier this offseason, the Cardinals went out and signed Karlos Dansby. Originally drafted by the Cardinals, this would be Dansby’s third stint in Arizona. He’s coming off of a rough season with the Cincinnati Bengals, and is now 35 years old, but he suddenly finds himself in an important position.
The Cardinals drafted Haason Reddick to play beside Bucannon at inside linebacker. However, with Dansby present, the rookie wouldn’t be under pressure to perform right away. With Bucannon out, though, it’s Dansby who could feel the pressure.
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There isn’t a lot of depth at linebacker, so until Bucannon comes back, Dansby will probably be counted on to hold down the fort. A starting inside linebacker duo of Dansby and Reddick isn’t ideal, but that may be what the team is forced into.
There is some precedent on Dansby’s side. The last time he returned to the Cardinals, in 2013, after three years in Miami, he came back with a bang. That season, he recorded 122 tackles, 6 1/2 sacks, and 4 interceptions, 2 of which he returned for touchdowns. Last year, in Cincinnati, he still have over 100 tackles, but wasn’t able to hold onto a starting job, and struggled mightily in coverage.
Dansby is not going to be the same player he was as a young man, but the Cardinals are hoping to get something close. With Bucannon hurt, and no other inside linebackers with experience on the team, leadership is big. Dansby was always going to be counted on to be a leader. Now, the team needs him to contribute on the field in a big way. He stands ready to defy Father Time for one more year.