The Arizona Cardinals are making moves as they continue to shape their roster heading into the final stretch of the season. On Tuesday, the team announced four transactions, headlined by the return of defensive lineman L.J.
Collier, who has been designated to return from injured reserve. That opens his 21-day practice window, giving the Cardinals time to evaluate his readiness before activating him to the 53-man roster.
Collier’s potential return could be a quiet but meaningful boost for a defensive front that’s been battling inconsistency and injuries throughout the year. While he hasn’t always put up flashy numbers, Collier brings veteran presence and versatility to the line - a guy who can shift across the front and hold his own against both the run and the pass.
The 30-year-old was originally a first-round pick by the Seahawks back in 2019, taken 29th overall out of TCU after earning first-team All-Big 12 honors in his final college season. After finishing out his rookie deal in Seattle - which included a hefty signing bonus north of $5.9 million - Collier signed a one-year deal with Arizona. He’s since returned on consecutive one-year contracts, including this current 2025 campaign.
In 2024, Collier quietly turned in a solid season in the desert. He appeared in all 17 games, tallying 29 tackles, four tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, and a pair of pass deflections. Those numbers may not jump off the stat sheet, but they reflect a player who consistently contributed in the trenches and gave the Cardinals meaningful snaps week in and week out.
Alongside Collier’s return to practice, the Cardinals also made a handful of depth-related moves. Tight end Pharaoh Brown has been promoted to the active roster. Brown, known for his blocking ability and size, gives Arizona another option in two-tight-end sets and adds insurance at a position that’s often asked to do a little bit of everything - from pass protection to red zone mismatches.
Meanwhile, wide receiver Bryson Green and running back Jermar Jefferson have been re-signed to the practice squad. These are classic depth signings, but they’re not without purpose. Green offers developmental upside at receiver, while Jefferson provides backfield insurance, particularly valuable as injuries and workloads pile up late in the year.
With Collier back in the mix and a few chess pieces shuffled across the roster, the Cardinals are quietly positioning themselves for a more stable finish to the season. It’s not a headline-grabbing overhaul, but these are the types of roster tweaks that can pay off when depth is tested and every snap starts to matter just a little more.