We're 94 days away from the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals Week 1 showdown. The countdown to kickoff continues with a player profile centered around Cameron Jordan.
Jordan is one of the greatest players in Saints history, and his time in New Orleans will be remembered through his consistency and all around skill set. Jordan is entering Year 15 and has only missed two games. One of those absences was due to COVID-19. Nothing you can do about that. The other absence came in 2022 after he fractured an orbital bone.
Jordan is one of the durable players you’ll see in a game as physical as football, and doing it in the trenches makes it even more impressive. More than just an iron man, Jordan has been a force over those 14 seasons.
From 2012 to 2022, Jordan brought down the quarterback no less than 7.5 times in each season. He also racked up at least 11 tackles for a loss in all but one season in that span. While the league has transitioned its focus to only sacks when discussing edge rushers, Jordan's ability to play both aspects of the game has flown under the radar.
Cameron Jordan's essential season
Jordan went on a three-year run from 2017 to 2019 where he made an All-Pro team each season. The first year of that streak was the best season. In 2017, Jordan pulled off the rare football triple double, 13 sacks, 17 tackles for a loss and 11 pass deflections. It's a perfect season to encapsulate what kind of player Jordan is.
Jordan's 13 sacks are the second-most of Jordan's career. He also paired it with 28 quarterback hits, a career-high. His 17 tackles for a loss are also the second highest of his career. Jordan has always taken pride in his ability to stop the run. Lastly, his 11 pass deflections is a great sign of his instincts. Jordan had the awareness to get his hands up when he couldn't make it to the quarterback.
Jordan truly is a complete defensive end. He can play the run, the pass, and has always been a smart player. That 2017 campaign showed Jordan's ability to check all of those boxes at a high level.
