In a devastating blow for the Arizona Cardinals, edge rusher Dennis Gardeck has been sidelined for the rest of the season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during Monday night’s matchup against the Chargers. Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed the news, expressing his disappointment at the loss of a key player on the team.
“Dennis has a knee [injury], and he’s going to be done for the year,” Gannon lamented in a video shared by Tyler Drake of AZSports. “We’ve had some guys now go to IR. It’s a part of the game. It’s just tough to swallow at times, so obviously we know what he puts into the game, into his craft, and being a pro and being the teammate that he is. So, that’s going to hurt.”
Gardeck, 30, had been making significant contributions to the team this season, amassing 22 tackles, six tackles for loss, and three sacks in just seven games. Despite starting off as a special teams player in his first three seasons with the Cardinals, Gardeck had worked his way up to playing 45 percent of the defensive snaps this season.
The loss of Gardeck poses a significant challenge for the Cardinals as they look to continue their success this season. With his strong work ethic, professionalism, and impact on the field, he will surely be missed by his teammates and fans alike. The team will now have to regroup and adjust their strategy moving forward without one of their key defensive playmakers.
