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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Jess Root

Cardinals, Rams getting pass-rushing production from rookie defenders

The Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams meet for the second and final time this season on Sunday. Both teams are getting nice pass-rushing contributions from some rookies.

In that first matchup, Rams rookie linebacker Byron Young, a third-round selection out of Tennessee, had a sack, a forced fumble and two quarterback hits to go with six tackles.

On the season, he has five sacks.

At that point, the Cardinals had only gotten one total sack from second-round linebacker BJ Ojulari and sixth-round defensive tackle Dante Stills.

Things have changed.

Stills has 3.5 sacks on the season and has been forced into the starting lineup with injuries.

Ojulari has finally emerged. He has four sacks now as a rookie, all in his last four games.

Only six rookies leaguewide have at least 3.5 sacks. Three of them are playing on Sunday in Glendale.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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