The Arizona Cardinals have taken a major hit on defense, officially placing Will Johnson on injured reserve with a neck injury that is expected to sideline him for the rest of the 2026 season.
That leaves Arizona two games into the regular season already scrambling without the top boundary corner it was counting on. Johnson was supposed to be a key piece in his second year after a rookie season that showed real progress for the Michigan product, and the Cardinals had reason to believe he could develop into the kind of shutdown presence they’ve missed since Patrick Peterson. With his size and tools, he looked like the best bet to try to fill that role.
Instead, Johnson’s season now looks over before it really got going. At this point, it would be a surprise to see him back on the field in 2026.
For a secondary that’s already dealing with pressure, the path forward is pretty clear: the Cardinals need more from the pass rush. Under defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, they haven’t consistently gotten after the quarterback at a high enough level, and that’s now even more important with Johnson out.
If Arizona can force quicker throws and faster decisions, it takes some of the load off a battered cornerback group. That kind of help from the front seven could go a long way toward easing the burden on the back end.
There are still bodies in the room, and the Cardinals will lean on them. Sean Murphy-Bunting has played solid football for Arizona since arriving a few seasons ago.
He was supposed to open 2025 as the starting corner before a training camp ACL injury knocked him off track. He made it back in time for 2026 camp, though it was obvious he still needed more reps.
Arizona cut him and later brought him back on the practice squad.
Now he joins a cornerback group that also includes Max Melton, Kei’Trel Clark, Garrett Williams and Denzel Burke. All four have experience in Rallis’ system, and that familiarity should help in a situation like this, especially at a position where communication and comfort matter so much.
The Cardinals are clearly hoping someone in that mix can step up. Losing Johnson is a tough blow, but the organization appears confident it can piece things together with what’s already in the building.
There’s also been some frustration from fans aimed at Johnson, and that part of the reaction doesn’t quite fit the reality of the situation. Johnson slid in the draft because of long-term concerns about his knee, but this injury is to his neck, and it’s serious enough to end his season. That’s a very different issue.
He played 12 games last season, dealt with a handful of random injuries, and still earned PFWA All-Rookie honors. So while the injuries have been unfortunate, this is not a case of some obvious pattern that anyone can control. Injuries are part of football, and as frustrating as they are for everyone involved, piling on Johnson isn’t the answer.
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