The Arizona Cardinals shook up their roster with a wave of injury-related moves, headlined by second-round pick Chase Bisontis landing on injured reserve.
By putting Bisontis on IR before final roster cuts, Arizona has effectively shut him down for the season. There are conditions that could allow a very late return, but with the injury he’s dealing with, the expectation is that he won’t be back until next spring. Bisontis had been battling Isaiah Adams for the starting right guard job, and he now becomes the second rookie the Cardinals have sent to season-ending IR, joining defensive tackle Kaleb Proctor.
The injury list didn’t stop there. Tight end Jameson Geers was also placed on IR because of a thumb injury, while linebacker Austin Keys went on IR after suffering an undisclosed injury against the Las Vegas Raiders. Arizona also waived/injured tight end Kenny Yeboah with an injury settlement.
One more young player will stay sidelined for the rest of the preseason. The coaching staff has decided to keep rookie running back Jeremiyah Love out of the remaining games after he picked up a high ankle sprain in the Raiders matchup.
To fill the open spots, the Cardinals signed tight end Baylor Cupp, running back Tre Stewart, and defensive tackle Keveion’ta Spears.
Cupp brings size to the tight end room at 6-foot-6 and 243 pounds. He was a 5-star recruit out of high school, spent time at Texas A&M before transferring to Texas Tech, and entered the NFL as an undrafted player in 2024 with the Kansas City Chiefs.
He posted a 30-inch vertical jump and a wingspan of 6-foot-8 1/4. Most of his 2024 season was spent on Kansas City’s practice squad, and after signing with the Baltimore Ravens he was waived during final cuts.
He then played for the Dallas Renegades of the UFL, where he had 15 targets, 8 catches for 73 yards, and 0 touchdowns. He is viewed as a blocking tight end and is known as being injury-prone.
Stewart, listed at 5-foot-10 and 192 pounds, arrives in a crowded backfield. He played at Jacksonville State, earned First-Team All-Conference USA honors, and put together back-to-back 200-yard games.
In 2024, he rushed for 1,604 yards and 23 touchdowns while losing 3 fumbles. This spring, he played for the Orlando Storm of the UFL and appeared in five games, finishing with 28 carries for 115 yards and no touchdowns or fumbles.
Spears comes in at 6-foot-4 and 313 pounds after stops at Louisiana Tech, Memphis, and SMU. Last season, he played in all 13 games and finished with 15 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, no sacks, one hurry, and four batted passes.
In Other News...
Cardinals Face Early Tip Reiman Decision They Didn't Want
Tip Reimans return has already become one of the first personnel questions hanging over Cardinals training camp, even before the pads come on for real. The second-year tight end is still working back from the severe ankle injury he suffered in October last season, and he opened camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list as Arizona begins sorting out its tight end room and the rest of the offense.
Mike LaFleur made it clear the team is not assuming Reiman will be ready for the opener, which puts the Cardinals in an uncomfortable early call on his PUP status. If he stays there, he would have to sit out the first four games, a tough outcome for a player LaFleur praised for his work ethic and for what he brings to the run game. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Suddenly Have A Week 1 Concern Fans Can't Ignore
The Cardinals are midway through preseason under Mike LaFleur, and the early tone around the new regime has been encouraging. LaFleur has already drawn praise for the way he has handled the room, but the injury report has become a quieter source of concern as Arizona keeps trying to stack healthy days and build toward opening week.
Rookie quarterback Kyler Beck has been limited by a rib injury that has cut into both practice work and game availability, even if the team is not sounding alarm bells yet. Running back Benson is also easing back from a meniscus injury, while defensive player Sweat remains on the physically unable to perform list with a knee issue and still has not practiced, leaving the Cardinals with a few notable absences as the regular season gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Rookie Safety Faces A Roster Fight Unlike Any Other
Rookie safety Wydett Williams Jr. has already managed to get on the field for Arizona in preseason action, but his path into the Cardinals plans is tied to a legal situation that is anything but ordinary. A temporary restraining order has allowed him to keep the door open to another NCAA season even after signing with Arizona, creating a rare overlap between pro football and college eligibility.
For the Cardinals, the football part of the equation is still the one that matters most in camp. Williams is not currently projected to make the 53-man roster, and his next step could depend on whether he lands on the practice squad or ends up looking back toward college football instead. The NCAA could still appeal the ruling, leaving his future as unsettled off the field as it is on it. [Read more 🡒]