EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants didn't wait for the trade deadline to make their first in-season deal of the year.

Eleven days before the Nov. 3 deadline, the team announced today it has traded outside linebacker Markus Golden to the Arizona Cardinals for a sixth-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Golden returns to the team for which he played his first four NFL seasons before joining the Giants as a free agent in 2019. He led the Giants with 10.5 sacks last year.

Golden again became a free agent following the season and re-signed with the Giants on Aug. 4. He played in each of the team's first seven games, including a start in the Giants' only victory, last Sunday vs. Washington. He had 10 tackles (four solo), 1.5 sacks, four quarterback hits and one pass defensed.

In last night's loss in Philadelphia, Golden played 27 defensive snaps and had one tackle – a five-yard sack of Carson Wentz. He was also credited with two quarterback hits.

The Giants' outside linebacker corps has recently undergone several changes. Lorenzo Carter is out for the season after tearing his Achilles tendon at Dallas on Oct. 11. Oshane Ximines is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury but is eligible to return when the Giants host Tampa Bay on Nov. 2. Last week, the Giants signed veteran defensive end Jabaal Sheard, who can also play linebacker.

Golden played in 46 regular-season games with 24 starts when he was with the Cardinals from 2015-18. He also started both postseason games in which he played. Golden totaled 142 tackles (100 solo), 19.0 sacks, three passes defensed, six forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery for the Cards. In the playoffs, he has 11 tackles (six solo).

The Giants are scheduled to host the Cardinals in MetLife Stadium on Dec. 13.