Arizona Cardinals sack leader Dennis Gardeck left against the Los Angeles Chargers and was did not return with a knee injury suffered on a Los Angeles punt in his team’s 17-15 win at State Farm Stadium.
The Cardinals also lost cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, who was questionable to return for Monday Night Football with a neck injury.
Gardeck has 15 tackles and a team-leading three sacks through Arizona’s 2-4 start this season.
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The starter also left the prior week’s game against the Green Bay Packers with a neck issue.
Rookie corner Max Melton replaced the veteran after the injury sent him to the blue tent and then the locker room. Melton flashed after he took over, batting away a pass on third-and-8 to force a 59-yard field goal make by the Chargers, who took a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Jesse Luketa was among the players who got additional opportunities once Gardeck’s day ended with him on the sidelines.