Bilal Nichols, a defensive lineman for the Arizona Cardinals, is working toward a return to play after missing significant time last season due to a neck injury. Nichols had been recognized for his durability before being placed on injured reserve in 2024 following consecutive games with a stinger.
“It was pretty challenging because I’m a dude who hasn’t really missed time in my career,” Nichols said, noting that he is currently questionable for the upcoming game in Indianapolis due to personal reasons. “It was rough. Not only a physical challenge, but mental as well, but I felt like it prepared me for this moment to be stronger and be a better player than I was at the time.”
Nichols chose to remain close to the team during his recovery instead of rehabbing elsewhere. He described his return to the field last weekend as significant: “there were a lot of bumps in the road” but it made his comeback “everything I dreamed of.” He added, “The neck is a serious part of the body, so there was just a lot of cautiousness going on with it. Now that we’re past that, I’m all healed up, ready to go and ready to whatever I need to do to help us win.”
The Cardinals are seeking solutions after three consecutive losses. Defensive lineman Calais Campbell addressed the team’s mindset: “you can’t let a game like that beat you twice.”
Quarterback Kyler Murray’s status remains uncertain as the team prepares for their next matchup against Indianapolis. Outside linebacker Baron Browning emphasized focus during preparation: “With 12 games left, that’s still like a full college season,” he said. “People are understanding that we don’t have no time to waste. The only thing that matters is the moment today, so we want to maximize the moment to get better, perfect our individual craft, so we can come together as a team and be better.”
Coach Jonathan Gannon commented on how players have responded heading into this week: “I see them respond to some adversity with maybe being a little disappointed with how they’re playing themselves, with our team,” Gannon said. “They respond the right way. When I ask them to do something, they do it. So, we just got to keep moving ahead, forging ahead, and make sure we keep getting better.” Gannon also acknowledged concerns about Nichols’ previous neck injury but expressed satisfaction with his first game back.
Reflecting on watching from the sidelines during recovery, Nichols noted how this period has shifted his perspective: “I look at it like a blessing in disguise,” he said. “For so many years I’ve been in it, and it gave me a different viewpoint of what it is that I needed to do better as player, what we needed to do better as a group, and allow me to really hone in on things that I knew I needed to improve. It’s exactly as a blessing in disguise.”
