TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona Cardinals first-round choose Darius Robinson stated Wednesday that the previous few months have been filled with “a number of ups and downs.”
Talking for the primary time this season, the defensive finish out of Missouri wasn’t positive if he’d make his NFL debut Sunday towards the Seattle Seahawks after a calf harm has saved him sidelined.
“I am simply taking it sooner or later at a time,” Robinson stated. “Simply excited for the assembly later to observe the tape with my coaches and see the place I can get higher at from at present’s apply.”
Robinson’s return from the calf harm, which he suffered on Aug. 22, has been three months within the making. He initially returned to apply on Oct. 9, the day his apply window was opened, however he did not end that session. He did not return to the apply subject once more till Monday, however each he and coach Jonathan Gannon have stated that Robinson did not endure a setback.
Robinson was activated to the 53-man roster on Oct. 29 regardless of not being wholesome or he risked staying on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.
Nevertheless, Robinson nonetheless stated Wednesday that he was “heartbroken” final month realizing that he would not be capable to return at the moment, including that “we knew what the harm was and [what] the timeline was.”
“All I knew was I had time to get higher,” Robinson stated. “It was somewhat lengthy, however we knew what it was. So, simply excited for this second as a result of I actually cherish it greater than ever as a result of it was taken away from me for thus lengthy. So tremendous excited to be again on the market.”
When requested if the plan was for him to return to apply on Oct. 9 to check his harm or if he believed that he might use that day to jumpstart his NFL debut, Robinson did not have a solution.
“We was simply making an attempt to go to apply,” Robinson stated. “We was simply making an attempt to get higher that day. I do not actually have a full reply on that, but it surely simply did not go nicely that [Wednesday] apply. However we’re right here at this Wednesday apply, so I am glad we made it to this present day and simply tremendous excited for the longer term.”
Gannon stated Arizona will take it “sooner or later a time” with Robinson’s apply reps however stated they be ok with the No. 27 choose in April’s draft being again on the sector.
“It has been a very long time,” Gannon stated. “He is had a tricky street. He had a tricky harm and he is working his tail off to get again on the market. He needs to get again on the market. He had an excellent week final week to return to play. All these [medical] folks did an excellent job with him, so we’ll take it sooner or later at a time.”
Arizona had two first-round picks after buying and selling the No. 3 choose to the Houston Texans throughout final yr’s draft. The Cardinals obtained Houston’s first-round choose in 2024 (No. 27) and likewise obtained the twelfth and thirty third picks within the 2023 draft, in addition to a 2024 third-rounder. Arizona additionally gave the Texans a 2023 fourth-rounder.
The Cardinals chosen large receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 4 choose with their first choose in April.
Robinson hasn’t performed a aggressive sport for the reason that Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29, 2023. However he stated he isn’t anxious about being rusty due to the work he is put in throughout rehab.
“Folks do not realize once you’re damage, you’re employed out, you carry and run twice as a lot as everyone else,” Robinson stated. “However, on the finish of the day, we bought to exit and compete towards anyone else.
“So, I am not likely too involved. I simply bought to maintain stacking reps and having good practices.”
Robinson stated he ready on daily basis whereas he was injured like he would have if he was enjoying by taking notes and going by walk-throughs. His aim is that at any time when he does take the sector, there will not be any “hiccups.”
He stated he is doing “nice” and has felt supported by his teammates, coaches, normal supervisor Monti Ossenfort, proprietor Michael Bidwill and the Cardinals franchise.
“It means every thing,” Robinson stated. “These guys, they drafted me, so, I imply, I owe them every thing. As soon as I signed my contract, they introduced me right here, so I will give my perfect each day and I am simply so grateful for them as a result of they’re the identical folks from the draft room in Indy, so once we first met, so I am simply glad to have their assist all through all this stuff.”
