Arizona Cardinals rocked by injury to Tyrann Mathieu
Monday 21 December 2015 21:06, UK
Tyrann Mathieu has bee ruled out for the rest of the season to hamper the Super Bowl hopes of Ariazona Cardinals.
Mathieu suffered a torn right knee ligament Sunday after intercepting a pass in the fourth quarter of a victory over Philadelphia.
The safety has made five interceptions and 89 tackles during the current campaign for the Cardinals.
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said Mathieu will likely wait a couple weeks before having surgery to allow the swelling to subside.
Arians stated: "He'll be fine. It's a shame with two games left and it's always a non-contact injury when these things happen. He'll bounce back and he'll be ready for next year."
Mathieu tore a left knee ligament in December of 2013 during his rookie season.
His versatility, from handling defensive back or linebacker duties to stopping rushers near the line of scrimmage, has made him one of the league's most challenging defenders.
But now the Cardinals are undone for the second year in a row by a torn knee ligament, last season losing quarterback Carson Palmer to the same issue and losing in the first round of the playoffs.
At 12-2, the Cardinals have won eight games in a row to clinch the NFC West division title and are two games ahead of Green Bay with two to play for a first-round bye behind undefeated Carolina in the National Conference.
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