Raising Zona
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Arizona Cardinals: 5 things given freedom from

By Scott Allen

GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 11: A large American Flag is stretched across the field during the National Anthem prior to a game between the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 11, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 11: A large American Flag is stretched across the field during the National Anthem prior to a game between the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 11, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 01: Linebacker Kareem Martin
GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 01: Linebacker Kareem Martin /

Major injury

Maybe the one thing that could be pointed to the most from the 2016 troubles outside of the kicking and special teams is the number of injuries the Cardinals had to deal with.

At the end of the season the Cardinals had 16 players on injured reserve.  That is almost one-third of an active roster.

Going into 2017, the Cardinals just have a couple of players to be concerned about.  First, Jaron Brown is returning from a torn ACL suffered in October.  He could be ready by September though.

There is also linebacker Deone Bucannon.  He is likely to miss the first couple weeks of the season but that’s it as far as major injuries go.

There will always be injury in football.  It can’t be avoided.  If it is bad enough to have to go on injured reserve however, it should be considered major.

Safety Tyvon Branch went on twice last year.  As previously stated, a number of injuries occurred on the offensive line.  Left tackle Jared Veldheer was lost for the season halfway through.

Keeping the Cardinals healthy will be a huge key to the success of the team in 2017.  Right now, they are on track.  Let’s just hope the bug doesn’t catch them in training camp.

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