Nichols was placed on injured reserve due to a neck stinger, but after running additional tests, the team determined it was best to sideline Nichols for the remainder of the season. Nichols totaled six tackles and one TFL for the Cardinals in the six games he appeared in.

Nichols suffered stingers in back-to-back games for the Cardinals and must now miss the next four weeks. Adam Schefter reported that Nichols is expected to miss the remainder of the season. He had started five of six games for the Cardinals on the interior line, notching just six tackles and one tackle for loss on the season. Naquan Jones and Khyiris Tonga will likely get playing time boosts.

Per Schefter, the deal includes $14.4 million in guaranteed money. Nichols has spent the last two years in Las Vegas, starting all 34 possible games for the Raiders. He tallied three sacks and eight TFLs in his two seasons with the team. Nichols also logged his first career touchdown, a short scoop-and-score in the Raiders’ Week 16 upset over the Chiefs. The deal will help bolster an Arizona run-defense that ranked 27th in EPA per attempt allowed last year.

Nichols is coming off of a year where he logged 31 tackles, four sacks, six hits, and a career-high 21 hurries. He is capable in both run defense and against the pass, ranking 55th among inside linemen in Pro Football Focus' overall defensive grade in 2021. His signing should help a Raiders defense that teams were able to run on and hit with chunk plays in the passing game. The Raiders were able to get to the quarterback in 2021. If they tighten things up they could be a solid unit in 2022.