Tyrann Mathieu Plans To Return On Sunday

Nov 23, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) walks out of the tunnel before a game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Cardinals are finally getting much needed good news on the injury front.

Tyrann Mathieu, who has missed the past two games with a broken thumb, is expected to return in a huge battle against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night. The Honey Badger took part in practice on Monday, which is usually a very good sign for a player’s status to play on Sunday.

"“I wasn’t going to miss this one,” Mathieu said. “I didn’t want to miss the last two, but we’re really excited about this weekend.”"

Having just had surgery on his thumb a few weeks, Mathieu will practice in a cast all week long in order to get a feel for it ahead of Sunday’s game. According to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN, Mathieu’s cast will “extend from his thumb to about midway up his forearm.”

Having broken my hand several years ago, I can only imagine how difficult that will be for the Mathieu to play with that big of a cast. I’m sure that he’ll be fine making tackles and even breaking up passes, but it’s hard to see him grabbing an interception from Russell Wilson.

Before he went down with the injury, the former LSU product was well on his way to having another stellar season. Before going down in the Atlanta game, the young safety had a total of 29 tackles, including two for a loss, and one interception during the 2014 campaign.

Like they have done all season long when a key player goes down, the Cardinals defense played well in Mathieu’s absence though. They allowed 14 points to the Chiefs and a pair of field goals to the Rams on Thursday night.

That’s not to say that Mathieu’s return won’t be welcomed. When he’s right, he’s one of the better cover safeties in the league and one of its most sure tacklers. With how hot the Seahawks are over the past month, the Cards are going to need all the help they can get in order to wrap up the division and the #1 seed in the NFC.