TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona coach Bruce Arians says outside linebacker John Abraham will return to the Cardinals on Tuesday.
Abraham left the team last week after sustaining a concussion in the Cardinals’ season-opening victory over San Diego. Arians had said that Abraham was contemplating retirement, wondering if he still has the fire to play the game.
“I knew a lot of it was the headaches and the first real big one (concussion) he’s ever had,” Arians said Monday, “and there are other things we’re dealing with and he’s fine with those.
It will be the second return to the Cardinals for Abraham this season. The 15-year NFL veteran showed up late for training camp after undergoing what he later confirmed was rehabilitation for an alcohol problem.
Abraham had until Tuesday to return or the Cardinals would have had to declare him out for the season.
“He’s excited about it,” Arians said. “He’s at the doctor’s, the neurologist, now, to make sure he can pass the test and be ready to go.”
Arians said Abraham “talked to a couple of players Saturday night in the hotel.”
“We have been texting back and forth for the last three days,” the coach said. “Probably about 30 minutes ago I asked him, ‘Do you want me to announce it at the press conference? He said, ‘Yes, that’d be great.’”
Abraham ranks ninth on the NFL’s career sacks list with 133½ and often has talked about how he wants nine more to move ahead of Michael Strahan into the No. 5 spot. He led the Cardinals with 11½ sacks last season, his first with the team, and was voted to his fifth Pro Bowl.
The 36-year-old linebacker had no tackles before leaving the season-opener in the third quarter.
Abraham didn’t arrive in training camp until Aug. 14, saying he had to deal with personal issues. He later confirmed that he had been in rehab.
Abraham was arrested on a drunken driving charge in suburban Atlanta in late June.
“He’s ready to play,” Arians said.
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