Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals rookie LB Golden looking iffy for matchup versus Seahawks

Published Dec. 31, 2015 4:48 p.m. ET

foxsports

Arizona Cardinals rookie linebacker Markus Golden is dealing with a knee injury that could force him to miss Sunday's regular-season finale against the visiting Seattle Seahawks.

Golden was among six players who sat out practice Wednesday - five on defense - and looms as the biggest injury concern for the Cardinals. He also missed Thursday's practice along with safety Rashad Johnson (ankle), defensive tackles Frostee Rucker (ankle) and Ken Mauro (calf) and wide receiver Michael Floyd (knee).

"Probably Markus Golden is the guy that is the worst for wear as far as whether or not we'll get him back this week," Arizona coach Bruce Arians told reporters Wednesday.

Golden, a second-round draft pick in May, is third on the Cardinals with four sacks, including 1 1/2 in the past two games. Linebacker Dwight Freeney, who leads the team with seven sacks and notched three last weekend, returned to practice Thursday.

Floyd has come on strong in the second half of the season, going over 100 yards five times in his past seven games. He had seven receptions for 113 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Arizona's 39-32 win at Seattle on Nov. 15.

Johnson, tied for the team lead with five interceptions, has missed the past two games, although Arians said he was close to being available for last weekend's rout of the Green Bay Packers.

LB Freeney back out to practice for #AZCardinals in open part, but looked like Floyd, RJohnson, Mauro, MGolden, Leach, Rucker still sitting.
— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) December 31, 2015