- Signed a three-year contract with the Cardinals on 3/11/15 as an unrestricted free agent after spending his first five NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. Signed a three-year contract extension on 12/1/17 that will keep him with the team through the 2020 season.
- Voted a team captain each of the last two seasons (2018-19), selected as the Cardinals Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award nominee and named the Steve Schoenfeld Media Good Guy by the local PFWA chapter in 2018. Also named the Falcons 2011 Walter Payton Man of the Year in honor of his off-the-field community service as well as his play on the field.
- After missing entire 2015 season with torn left Achilles, played 58 games (57 starts) in four seasons (2016-19) and totaled 158 tackles, 31 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, a fumble recovery and 18 QB hits.
Originally drafted by Atlanta in the third round (83rd overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft and re-signed (one-year contract) with the Falcons on 3/4/14. Signed a three-year contract with the Cardinals as an unrestricted free agent on 3/11/15. Signed a three-year contract extension with the Cardinals on 12/1/17.
2019: After being selected as a team captain for the second consecutive season, started all 16 games for the first time in his career and totaled 47 tackles, six tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and six QB hits ... posted three tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack of Lamar Jackson @ Bal (9/15) ... tallied four tackles including a solo stop of Joe Mixon for no gain late in the second quarter @ Cin (10/6) ... registered a season-high five tackles, a tackle for loss, a QB pressure and a half-sack vs. Atl (10/13); paired with Rodney Gunter to bring down Matt Ryan for a nine-yard loss on third-and-two to force a second-quarter punt ... collected five tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack and a QB hit for a unit that totaled a season-high eight sacks, three forced fumbles (two lost) and 12 total QB hits while holding the Giants to 156 net passing yards @ NYG (10/20) ... recorded three tackles including a tackle for loss on the 49ers final offensive possesion on Thursday Night Football vs. SF (10/31) ... posted four tackles and a team-high two QB pressures vs. Cle (12/15) ... had three tackles and a tackle for loss for a defense that allowed season lows in points (13), TDs (one), first downs (13), third down conversions (one), total net yards (224), net passing yards (133) and completion percentage (51.6%) @ Sea (12/22).
2018: After being selected as a team captain for the first time in his career, started all 15 games played and had a career-high 51 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, a pass defensed, a fumble recovery, six QB pressure and five QB hits … selected as the Cardinals Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award nominee and named the Steve Schoenfeld Media Good Guy by the local PFWA chapter … had four tackles and a QB pressure in his 100th career game @ LAR (9/16) … recovered a Mitchell Trubisky fumble, resulting in a TD on the next play vs. Chi (9/23); had three tackles against the Bears … recorded three tackles, including a tackle for loss, for a defense that forced five turnovers @ SF (10/7) … totaled five tackles, two for loss, a career-high two sacks and two QB hits @ Min (10/14); notched the first of consecutive sacks that stalled a six-play, 12-yard Vikings drive that started at the Cardinals 31-yard line and resulted in a FG … inactive (ankle) vs. SF (10/28) … collected four tackles, one for loss, two QB hits, three QB pressures and a pass defensed for a unit that held the NFL's top-ranked scoring offense to a season-low 26 points @ KC (11/11) … set a career-high with eight tackles, including a career-high-tying six solo tackles and a tackle for loss vs. Oak (11/18) … totaled three tackles, one for loss and a QB hit for a defense that held Aaron Rodgers to a 4.66 yards-per-pass-attempt average (233 yards on 50 attempts) and a 79.8 passer rating @ GB (12/2).
2017: Started all 12 games in which he played and totaled 30 tackles, eight for loss, a sack, a pass defensed, nine QB pressures and five QB hits for the NFL's sixth ranked defense … signed a three-year extension with the Cardinals on 12/1 … missed Weeks 11-14 (ankle) … had three solo tackles in the season-opener @ Det (9/10) … tallied three tackles, one QB pressure and two QB hits @ Ind (9/17) … notched a season-high four tackles vs. Dal (9/25) … posted two tackles, stopping Carlos Hyde for no gain on each play vs. SF (10/1) … registered three tackles, one for loss, one QB pressure and a pass defensed @ Phi (10/8) … collected three tackles, a sack (his first since 2014), one tackle for loss and two QB hits @ SF (11/5) … returned from an ankle injury to record four tackles, one for loss, for a defense that held the Redskins to a season-low 31 rushing yards @ Was (12/17).
2016: Started 14 of 15 games played and had 30 tackles, including eight for loss, while adding 13 QB pressures and two QB hits … made his Cardinals debut after missing 2015 season with Achilles injury and had one tackle vs. NE (9/11) … tackled LeSean McCoy in the end zone for a safety in the fourth quarter @ Buf (9/25); had two solo tackles with one for loss … assisted on two tackles and tied for team lead with three QB pressures @ SF (10/6) … registered three solo tackles and one for loss vs. NYJ (10/17) … collected one solo tackle and two QB pressures vs. Sea (10/23) … notched four tackles, including one for loss @ Car (10/30) … inactive (foot) @ Min (11/20) … posted a season-high six tackles, with one for loss @ Atl (11/27) … recorded three solo tackles, one for loss, and two QB pressures @ Sea (12/24) … had three tackles, with two for loss, and two QB pressures @ LAR (1/1/17).
2015:Â Suffered a torn left Achilles during training camp and was placed on injured reserve on 8/21.
2014: Making his return from a torn right Achilles suffered late in the '13 season, appeared in 14 games (two starts) and had 32 tackles and two sacks … tied for second on the team with six tackles for loss … registered four tackles and his first sack of the season when he took down Mike Glennon in the second quarter vs. TB (9/18) on TNF … saw action at DT and recorded four total tackles @ NYG (10/5) … posted three total tackles @ Bal (10/19) … recorded three total tackles vs Cle (11/23) … had his second sack of the season when he took down Drew Brees in the third quarter @ NO (12/21); his sack was one of five for the day by Atlanta; added two tackles, a tackle for loss and a QB hit.
2013: Started 15 games and had 48 total tackles (35 solo) and five sacks, while also adding six tackles for loss and two passes defensed … had one of the best games of his career in the season opener @ NO (9/8), setting career highs in tackles (7) and solo tackles (6) while taking down Drew Brees for his first sack of the season … totaled five tackles in an SNF matchup vs. NE (9/29) … registered three tackles (two solo) and a sack vs. NYJ (10/7), dropping Geno Smith for a 10-yard loss … posted his third sack of the season when he took down Carson Palmer for a nine-yard loss @ AZ (10/27); also tied his career-high with seven total tackles and one tackle for loss … finished the contest @ GB (12/8) with six tackles, a QB hit, his fourth sack of the season and a tackle for loss; marked his second consecutive game with six tackles (five solo) … registered his fifth sack of the season, a single-season career high, when he took down Colin Kaepernick on a third-down play in the first half @ SF (12/23); suffered a torn right achilles later in the game that ended his season. Â
2012: After spending the first six weeks of the season on the reserve/non-football injury list, went on to appear in 10 regular season games (eight starts) and started both postseason contests … recorded 21 tackles, a pass defensed and his first career forced fumble in the regular season and added six tackles, a sack and a pass defensed in postseason play … saw action as a reserve DT in the first two contests following his return: @ Phi (10/28) and vs. Dal (11/4) … made his first start of the season @ NO (11/11) and had two tackles and a pass defensed … registered three tackles in the Falcons 24-23 come-from-behind victory @ TB (11/25) … had season highs with six tackles and five solo tackles @ Det (12/22) … started his third career postseason game and totaled two tackles in the Divisional Playoff matchup vs. Sea (1/13/13) … started at DT in the NFC Championship Game vs. SF (1/20/13) and finished with four tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and a pass defensed; took down Colin Kaepernick for a nine-yard loss on 3rd-n-4 in the first quarter, forcing a 49ers punt.
2011: Started all 15 games he played during the regular season and started the team's Wild Card matchup against the Giants … named the Falcons Walter Payton Man of the Year … had 33 tackles, three sacks, his first career INT and his first career fumble recovery (which he returned 13 yards for his first career TD) … helped the Falcons rank sixth in the NFL in rushing yards allowed (97.0 yards per game) … inactive (knee) for the season opener @ Chi (9/11) … registered five tackles and two QB hits @ Sea (10/2); held the Seahawks to just 53 rushing yards on 15 attempts, including 24 yards on eight attempts by Marshawn Lynch … the following week, posted four tackles, his first sack of the season, two tackles for loss and a QB hit vs. GB (10/9); took down Aaron Rodgers for a seven-yard loss on the first play of the third quarter … with the Falcons holding a 24-17 lead midway through the fourth quarter, hauled in his first career INT when he picked off a Cam Newton pass at the CAR 40-yard line; Atlanta took a 14-point lead on the ensuing drive, sealing the victory … recorded his second sack of the season, and second in three games, when he took down Matthew Stafford for a 10-yard loss on a 3rd-n-goal from the ATL 6-yard line to force a FG attempt @ Det (10/23) … posted a sack of Curtis Painter @ Ind (11/6), marking his second sack in as many games and third sack in a span of four games … scored the first TD of his NFL career when he recovered a Blaine Gabbert fumble in the third quarter and returned it 13 yards for a TD and a 34-0 Falcons lead vs. Jax (12/15) … made his second career postseason start and had one tackle in Wild Card matchup @ NYG (1/8/12).
2010: Made an immediate impact during his rookie season, starting 15 of 16 regular season contests and the Divisional Playoff game vs. Green Bay … totaled 40 tackles, a sack and a pass defensed … made his NFL debut in the regular season opener vs. Pit (9/12) and had one tackle … logged his first career start vs. AZ (9/19) … posted a season-high five tackles (four solo) @ Cle (10/10) … tied his season high with five tackles @ Car (12/12) … registered his first career sack and added three tackles in the regular season finale vs. Car (1/2); took down Jimmy Clausen in the second quarter … made his postseason debut starting at DT in the Divisional matchup vs. GB (1/15/11) and had five tackles.
Three-year starter who totaled 146 tackles (83 solo), 27 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, 11 passes defensed, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble … two-team SEC Academic Honor Roll member (2007-08) … named the Wildcats Most Outstanding Defensive Player as a senior in '09 after posting a career-high 56 tackles, four sacks, 12 tackles for loss, five passes defensed and a forced fumble … totaled 36 tackles while appearing in 13 games as a junior in '08, adding 10 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks ... as a sophomore in '07, was named Most Improved Defensive Player as chosen by the Wildcat coaches ... totaled 43 tackles on the season, including four for loss and 2.5 sacks ... claimed a spot on the SEC Academic Honor Roll … as a freshman in '06, appeared in 11 games (two starts) and totaled 18 tackles on the season.
Attended Central (Louisville, KY) High School where he was a four-year letterman and three-year starter on the defensive line ... first-team (Louisville Courier-Journal) and second-team (AP) All-State selection as a senior with 91 tackles, 15 sacks, three INTs, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and seven passes defensed … played in the Kentucky-Tennessee High School All-Star game … part of a Central team that went to the state playoffs all three years he was a starter … lettered and advanced to the state meet four consecutive years in wrestling … participated in baseball and track and field … in June of 2019, was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame … earned a degree in Secondary Education.
