Markus Golden set for heavy workload with Arizona Cardinals
By Jim Koch
Trade acquisition Markus Golden will be used extensively when the Arizona Cardinals take on the Miami Dolphins this weekend
Back on October 23rd, the Arizona Cardinals brought an old friend back to the desert. Markus Golden, a former second-round draft pick of the Cardinals, left the franchise as a free agent back in 2019. Now, a little over a year and a half later, the energetic edge-rusher is ready to hit the ground running for the team that gave him his start in the NFL five years ago.
The timing of Golden’s return to the Cards couldn’t be any better. Devon Kennard, one of the squad’s starters at outside linebacker, has been placed on the league’s Reserve/COVID-19 list. The latest depth chart indicates that Golden will take Kennard’s place in the starting lineup this coming Sunday when Arizona takes on the Miami Dolphins at State Farm Stadium.
Golden, as mentioned, is no stranger to the Cardinals organization. As a rookie back in 2015, the former University of Missouri product racked up 27 tackles and four sacks in 15 appearances (six starts) for the Redbirds. The following season, Golden totaled 51 tackles, 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in the 16 games (three starts) he participated in.
Things started to go south for Golden in 2017, his third professional campaign. During a week four victory over the San Francisco 49ers, the St. Louis native suffered a torn ACL. Golden finished the year with just 11 tackles and four quarterback hits during the injury-shortened season.
In 2018, Golden was credited with 30 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 11 starts for Big Red. Lingering effects from the previous year’s knee surgery had an effect, however, causing him to miss some action. Golden entered free agency the following offseason, and proceeded to sign a one-year contract with the New York Giants.
During his first campaign in the “Big Apple”, Golden registered 72 tackles,10 sacks and a mighty impressive 27 quarterback hits for the Giants. This year, the veteran contributed just 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks in what became a reduced role for him in a new defense that was implemented by New York.
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And now he’s back. Arizona isn’t wasting any time getting Golden involved with coordinator Vance Joseph‘s defensive unit. Hopefully, the 29-year old’s second stint with the Cardinals will get off to a flying start when the Dolphins come to town this weekend.