Robert Nkemdiche’s eyes got wide when he heard coach Bruce Arians had complimented him this week.
The defensive tackle and Cardinals’ first-round draft pick hadn’t heard, and in a season like he has had, keeping a lower profile made sense. Nkemdiche has been active in only four games, with three total tackles – nowhere near the hope when he first arrived in Tempe in May.
He was credited with only one assisted tackle on his season-high 25 snaps against the Saints Sunday, but Arians said Nkemdiche looked “explosive” and has stayed off the mental error list in practice for a couple of weeks.