Paris

Johnson

This is the third straight season-ending injury for Johnson, who also ended the 2024 and 2025 seasons on injured reserve due to knee injuries. The Cardinals picked up Johnson’s fifth-year option earlier this offseason, so he will return for the 2026 season. That said, this recent string of injuries doesn’t bode well for him earning a long-term contract extension this offseason, despite his strong play when healthy. Johnson allowed seven pressures and one sack on 174 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF, and has allowed 10 sacks in his last 30 games played. Assuming all goes well with his rehab, Johnson should be ready in time for training camp next season.

Johnson lasted all of three days on PUP before the team deemed him healthy enough to activate. The Cardinals are currently in day three of camp but have yet to progress to padded practices. The former first-round pick will again be charged with protecting the quarterback’s blind side and will need to turn the corner on the field if the Cardinals want to make good on their investment.

The Cardinals also placed CB Garrett Williams, LT Paris Johnson Jr. and TE Tip Reiman on the physically unable to perform list. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport did not specify whether these are active or reserve listings. Sweat let it be known he was unhappy in Arizona this offseason. He attended mandatory minicamp but did not practice. Williams suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture in December. Johnson missed time with a knee injury last year. Reiman (ankle) was expected to be “ready to roll” for training camp.

He’s projected to make roughly $19 million in the final year of his rookie contract. Johnson Jr. has played well over the past two years, with PFF blocking grades of 80.8 and 76.6, respectively. He ended both seasons on injured reserve and hasn’t played 900 snaps since his rookie year. The Cardinals will likely want to see a little more durability before awarding him a monster extension.

Baker entered the league’s concussion protocol earlier this week after going down in Week 16’s game against the Falcons. The star safety will miss at least one game due to his brain injury, with backup safety Kitan Crawford looking like the next man up to fill his role. In addition to Baker, the Cardinals also ruled out LT Paris Johnson (knee), and CB Kei’Tre Clark (knee) for Week 17.

The Cardinals reportedly plan to “ease” Harrison back into action today. Teams often cast aside snap-count plans if their recently injured star player is feeling good early in their return, but Harrison has not yet established himself as a player who regularly exceeds expectations. The prudent move is to treat WR Michael Wilson as a fantasy football WR2 and view Harrison as a WR4/FLEX. Cardinals WR Xavier Weaver (hamstring) is also active. The Cardinals declared CB Max Melton (heel), CB Elijah Jones, CB Darren Hall (concussion), S Jalen Thompson (hamstring), OL Evan Brown (personal) and LT Paris Johnson Jr. (knee) inactive for Week 16 against the Falcons.

Johnson left Week 14’s loss to the Rams with an MCL injury and would seem likely to miss Arizona’s Week 15 game against the Cardinals. Losing Johnson ahead of a matchup with the ferocious Texans pass rush is bad news for Jacoby Brissett and the entire Cardinals offense. Brissett remains a solid streaming option based on pass volume alone.

Cardinals reporters noted that he stayed on the sideline after being ruled out, but the Cardinals don’t exactly have a reason to push Johnson through this injury given they’re already eliminated from playoff contention. Arizona has just one starter left from its season-opening line and faces the Texans in Week 15. Jacoby Brissett was already pummeled by the Rams on Sunday and Week 15 shapes up as more of the same.

Kyler Murray will have his top-tier left tackle protecting his blindside against the Seahawks’ pass rush this evening. The Cardinals declared CB Will Johnson, WR Zay Jones, LB Xavier Thomas, OL Will Hernandez, OL Demontrey Jacobs and TE Travis Vokelek inactive for Week 4 against the Seahawks. The Cardinals’ secondary is in rough shape. They lost CB Starling Thomas V to a torn ACL this summer and placed CB Garrett Williams on injured reserve last week with a knee injury of his own. Johnson has played very well when available. Hopefully, his groin injury heals up in time for Week 5.

Johnson was questionable and missed Week 3 on the questionable line with this knee injury. Arizona’s top left tackle should help give Kyler Murray a little extra time against a fierce Seahawks front on Thursday night.