The Steelers placed Golden on the reserve retired list Friday, according to the team's official site.

EDGE Analysis

Golden will end his time in the NFL but will still be bound to his contract with the Steelers if he ever decides to return. The 6-foot-2 linebacker finished out the 2023 season with 20 tackles (14 solo) and 4.0 sacks over 16 regular-season games. He played nine seasons in the NFL, with career totals of 343 tackles, 51.0 sacks, 68 tackles for a loss, 11 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.

Golden signed a contract with the Steelers on Thursday, Chris Adamski of Triblive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Golden suited up in 16 games for Pittsburgh last season, recording 20 combined tackles and 4.0 sacks, but he'd remained on the free-agent market until now. He'll likely be competing for the same rotational role he held last season.

Golden and the Steelers agreed Wednesday to a one-year deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Golden was released by Arizona this offseason after struggling to make an impact in 2022, recording just 48 tackles and 2.5 sacks across 17 regular-season appearances. The 2015 second-round pick has three career double-digit sack campaigns, most recently in 2021, but he's totaled just 13.5 sacks in his other five seasons combined. In Pittsburgh, Golden will likely compete with rookie fourth-round pick Nick Herbig for snaps behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.

The Cardinals are releasing Golden on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Golden struggled to make an impact in 2022 and posted just 48 tackles and 2.5 sacks across 17 regular-season appearances. His release will save the Cardinals approximately $3 million in cap space, per Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site. Golden posted 11 sacks during his first season back with Arizona in 2021 and has three career double-digit sack campaigns, so he could be an intriguing free agent and potential bounce-back candidate in 2023.

Golden finished Sunday's Week 15 loss to Denver with seven tackles (five solo), including one sack.

EDGE Analysis

This was one of Golden's best games of the campaign, as he finished one shy of his season-high tackle mark and recorded his second full sack. The veteran linebacker has played on at least 63 percent of Arizona's defensive snaps in all but two games this season, but he's produced a modest 41 tackles over 14 contests. That's about the same pace that led him to 48 stops over 16 games last season, but he had 11 sacks in that campaign versus just 2.5 so far in 2022.

Golden (toe) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's season opener against the Chiefs, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Golden didn't practice Wednesday and was limited Thursday but returned to full participation Friday, putting him in line to play in Week 1. The 2015 second-round pick is coming off the third double-digit sack tally of his career and is set for another major role in 2022.

The Cardinals and Golden (toe) agreed to a one-year extension Friday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Golden is coming off the third double-digit sack tally (11, to be precise) of his seven-year career last season, and in the wake of Chandler Jones' departure this offseason, the former now stands as the top pass rusher for the Cardinals. Golden's status for Sunday's game against the Chiefs is in question after he missed the entire preseason slate and didn't get back on the field until Thursday. He clarified the reason for his extended absence Friday, telling Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic that he dropped "a 50-pound kettle ball" on his toe. Arizona's final practice report of Week 1 will give a sense of Golden's upcoming availability.

Golden (toe) was a limited paricipant during the Cardinals' practice Thursday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

While Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury did not initially elaborate on the exact nature of Golden's injury, it appears he is dealing with an unspecified toe issue injury, according to the team's official injury report Thursday. However, Kingsbury did previously tab the 31-year-old as a likely game-time decision heading into Sunday's season opener against Kansas City. Golden led the Cardinals' pass rush with 11 sacks over 16 games last year, so his health status on the Cardinals' injury reports Friday and Saturday will be worth monitoring closely.

Golden (toe) did not participate during the Cardinals' practice Wednesday, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Golden is likely to be a game-time decision for Arizona's Week 1 contest against the Chiefs on Sunday after head coach Kliff Kingsbury said he's dealing with an undisclosed injury Monday. The veteran linebacker stacked up 48 tackles and a career-best 11 sacks with Arizona last season, and he should serve an important role in the team's pass rush once again in 2022. In Golden's possible absence, rookies outside linebackers Myjai Sanders and Cameron Thomas would likely see increased roles against Kansas City.

Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury said Monday that Golden (undisclosed) will be a game-day decision for Week 1, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

The extent of the injury remains unclear, but Golden didn't appear in any of the Cardinals' preseason contests. The 2015 second-round pick recorded 48 tackles and 11 sacks last year, so his potential absence would be a big blow to Arizona's defense, which faces a stiff test against the Chiefs on Sunday.