The injury bug has already struck the Arizona Cardinals before the 2024 campaign. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, offensive lineman Christian Jones, running back Tony Jones Jr., and defensive lineman Darius Robinson were all placed on injured reserve less than twenty-four hours after the Cardinals dealt defensive end Cameron Thomas to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Arizona requires as much defensive strength as possible, particularly in light of their performance in 2023. Pro Football Focus (PFF) gave them the lowest grade of 54.7, indicating that they were among the weakest defenses in the NFL. Not to add, with 2,434 total running yards allowed, the Cardinals allowed the highest total in the NFL. Nevertheless, Thomas showed promise during the preseason. With three sacks and nine quarterback pressures, he topped the club. Not to be overlooked, star linebacker Zaven Collins finished the season with 3.5 sacks.
After trading for Cameron Thomas, injuries severely hurt the Cardinals
Robinson was put on injured reserve due to a calf strain yet he continued to play defense. The Cardinals selected the standout player from the University of Missouri with their 27th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was an easy target because of his combination of physical tools, speed, size, and skill.
Until Robinson suffered his calf injury, Arizona was still confident in Robinson despite Thomas’s departure for Kansas City. Seeing someone who could play both inside and outside, Jonathan Gannon, his head coach, was enthralled. Robinson is scheduled to make his way back from the IR. Red Sea will, regrettably, have to wait till the former Tiger is cleared to play.
Transitioning to the attacking end of the field, starting quarterback Kyler Murray will be exposed more by Week 1. In his last preseason game, rookie offensive tackle Christian Jones suffered a leg injury. Jonah Williams’ addition provided some protection for the line, but adding Jones would be a significant improvement. The former Texas Longhorn caused havoc for the opposition defensive line and was named Honorable Mention All-Big 12. Due to his height of 6’5 and weight of over 300 pounds, in addition to his soccer experience, Jones is a powerful yet elegant behemoth.
Finally, Jones Jr., a running back, suffered a shoulder injury that ended his season. However, the starting lineup was confirmed, with James Conner at the top, rookie Trey Benson at number two, and Emari Demercado at number three. The Cardinals seem content with their three backfield options, even after cutting Michael Carter on Tuesday afternoon.
It would be fantastic if Arizona could get the most out of its present roster. If not, people might not realize how terrible the next few weeks will be.
