Will

Johnson

Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur said on Monday that Johnson (neck) could miss the remainder of the season. ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news today about Johnson being placed on injured reserve, though he did not specify whether Johnson’s season is for sure over. Cardinals slot CB Garrett Williams (Achilles) and perimeter CB2 Max Melton (toe) are also dealing with injuries.

This comes a day after LaFleur said he did not believe Johnson suffered a serious injury in Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks. The loss of Johnson would be another blow to a secondary that is already short Garrett Williams (Achilles) and also lost Max Melton (toe) in Week 2. Johnson leads all Cardinals DBs with 111 snaps through the first two weeks, and he appeared on 722 snaps last season. We’ll likely get a clearer timeline for Johnson’s absence in the coming days.

The Cardinals are already without slot CB Garrett Williams, who has not yet returned from last season’s Achilles tendon rupture. Johnson and Melton start on the perimeter. Losing one or both could be consequential against the 49ers next week.

The Cardinals’ rookie cornerback will miss his third straight game. Fortunately, CB Garrett Williams (ankle) is active. Browning (concussion) and Harrison (appendicitis) have been unable to practice over the last two weeks. Cardinals RB Bam Knight should handle a sizable workload with Demercado (ankle) ruled out and RB Trey Benson (knee) not yet ready to return from injured reserve. Benson should be stashed at this time.

Johnson has a chance to return this week, after practicing in a limited fashion on Thursday and Friday. Cardinals LB Baron Browning (concussion) has, unfortunately, been ruled out once more. He was unable to resume practicing as he works through his brain injury. Fellow CB Garrett Williams (ankle) is also questionable.

Johnson and LB Baron Browning (concussion) remained sidelined all week. The team is also without LB Mack Wilson (ribs). The three defenders will be missed against the 49ers, whose offensive health is improving. Both QB Brock Purdy (toe) and WR Ricky Pearsall (knee) will return to action this week.

Johnson missed Week 10 with back/hip issues and is trending to miss Week 11 as well. Also not practicing on the defense were LB Baron Browning (concussion), LB Mack Wilson (ribs), or S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (ankle). The Cardinals defense is hurting heading into a Week 11 matchup against the 49ers and each of these players will need to log a practice to have a chance to play.

Neither will (inhale): CB Max Melton (concussion), LB BJ Ojulari (knee), or LB Mack Wilson (ribs) — the good news is that Budda Baker (hamstring) upgraded to full today and has been removed from the injury report. Arizona’s defense looked good against the Cowboys on Monday night, but their cornerback depth will be tested against Jaxson Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed.

It’s a brutal blow to a Cardinals defense that will also be without starting cornerback Max Melton (concussion). The Cardinals will need to make due with backups Kei’Trel Clark and Elijah Jones against a Seahawks offense that is fresh off a dominant performance against the Commanders in which Sam Darnold threw for 330-4-1 while completing 70.4 percent of his passes. In addition to Johnson and Melton being out, the Cardinals will also keep LB BJ Ojulari (knee) sidelined for at least one more week after he was limited in every practice.

The Cardinals’ stud rookie cornerback was a limited participant yesterday. Mid-week downgrades are never good. Johnson has been playing through a groin injury intermittently this season. Perhaps a week off would do him some good. Unfortunately, the Cardinals face the division-rival Seahawks in Week 10.