The Cardinals may have caught a break before Week 1, and it comes in the middle of the Chargers’ offensive line.
Los Angeles is expected to be without starting center Tyler Biadasz “indefinitely” after he suffered a significant knee injury during a joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers. The injury includes his ACL among other ligaments, and Biadasz will meet with more doctors for further clarity.
For a Chargers team that was already heavily favored to beat Arizona in the season opener at SoFi Stadium, that’s a notable setback. It doesn’t flip the matchup on its own, but it does change the feel of the game.
Losing a center is a different kind of problem. That spot is the traffic cop for the entire line - handling protections, making adjustments and keeping everything organized. Biadasz is a former Pro Bowl selection and has started at least 15 games in every season except his rookie year, which makes this a real loss for Los Angeles.
The timing is rough, too. Biadasz had just signed with the Chargers this offseason on a three-year, $30 million deal, so this isn’t a case of a veteran quarterback-center tandem already having years of chemistry built in. Justin Herbert now has to adjust to a new starter at center with the regular season closing in, and the gap in reps between Biadasz and whoever replaces him is not small.
That is where Arizona can benefit. The Cardinals’ defensive front could get a boost from the situation, especially with Walter Nolen healthy this preseason and Josh Sweat expected back at some point before the opener.
Arizona has its own injury concerns, of course. There is still speculation about when Jeremiyah Love will return after an ankle injury last week, and right guard Chase Bisontis is likely out for the year after an MCL injury.
The Cardinals know the drill when it comes to injury issues. They came out of the 2025 season with setbacks stacking up week after week.
There is also another variable on Los Angeles’ side: tackle Rashawn Slater’s status for Week 1 is still uncertain. Arizona has been preparing for this matchup since early June, according to defensive coordinator Nick Rallis.
On paper, the Chargers still have the stronger line group. Los Angeles ranked No. 7 in PFF’s list of the top offensive line units in the NFL, while Arizona came in at No. 22.
Even so, with Biadasz out, the Cardinals at least have a little more room to make this one interesting.
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Cardinals Face A Jeremiyah Love Debate Fans Wont Ignore
Jeremiyah Love gave the Cardinals plenty to think about in the first half of their preseason game, handling 14 touches before the conversation shifted from usage to durability. Arizona has been trying to balance getting its rookie running back enough work to settle in with not overdoing it in a game environment that often features backup defenders and uneven protection.
Loves workload was already drawing attention when the ankle issue surfaced late in his final offensive snap, and now the bigger question is how much time he may miss as the regular season approaches. The Cardinals want him ready by Week 1, but the episode has turned a routine preseason evaluation into a test of patience, caution and how much risk the team is willing to take with one of its most closely watched young players. [Read more 🡒]