Markus Golden Injury: Cardinals lose top pass rusher for the season

The Arizona Cardinals received some bad news on Monday. The team’s worst fears were confirmed as it was revealed edge rusher Markus Golden suffered a torn ACL.

Golden is now out for the 2017 season. The team officially placed him on the injured reserve list on Monday afternoon.

This is a significant loss for the Cardinals. Golden is one of the team’s best pass rushers; he led Arizona with 12.5 sacks in 2016.

Here’s what they’re saying about this news over at Cardinals SB Nation site Revenge of the Birds.

Kareem Martin will get the first crack at “replacing” Golden, but Golden has some irreplaceable qualities.

He is one of the most ferocious competitors I have ever seen. His motor runs hot for 100% of the time he is on the field and his attitude his something the Cardinals will desperately miss.

Haason Reddick will get some looks at the outside linebacker spot, even more now with the Golden injury and Deone Bucannon back to man the inside linebacker position.

The Eagles (3-1) are set to play the Cardinals (2-2) in Philadelphia this weekend. Chandler Jones, who has four sacks this season, still figures to be a pass rushing threat off the edge. But no one else on Arizona’s roster currently has more than one sack this season.

Jason Peters and Lane Johnson did a great job of shutting down two great pass rushers in Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram in Week 4. On paper, at least, their challenge won’t be as intimidating this week.