Will

Johnson

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.

Johnson missed Weeks 3-4 with a groin injury. A recurrence seems likely. The Cardinals’ secondary has lost multiple starters and/or contributors to injury this season. If Johnson cannot play in Week 9, as appears likely, the unit will have a tough time containing Cowboys WRs CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens on Monday night.

Johnson went down with a groin injury in Week 2 and has been out ever since. He is listed as questionable for Week 5. The rookie was playing a part-time role to start the year and will likely return to something similar for his first game back. Johnson had four pass break-ups and four tackles through two games.

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.