The Arizona Cardinals are turning back to a name that already feels familiar in the desert.
With Jalen Brooks moving to injured reserve after wrist surgery, Arizona is signing veteran wideout Zay Jones to help patch together a receiver group that has been thinned out further by the loss of Marvin Harrison Jr. to a trade weeks ago. Jones spent two seasons with the Cardinals in 2024-25 before not being re-signed this offseason, and now he’s back after a short stint with the Houston Texans in training camp.
Arizona also made a pair of practice-squad moves today, re-signing offensive lineman Austin Deculus and safety Wydett Williams Jr. while releasing safety Jerrick Reed II.
Jones brings plenty of mileage with him. He has nine years of NFL experience, more than 300 catches and over 3,000 receiving yards. His prior connection with Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort likely helped smooth the return, and there’s already some built-in familiarity on the field, too, since Jones has played with Michael Wilson and Trey McBride before.
Former Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon had plenty of praise for Jones when he was still in Arizona.
“He does his job. He's in the right spot.
He can play three spots. He's fast and he's explosive.
(He’s a) really good, contested catch guy," Gannon said of Jones last season.
Current head coach Mike LaFleur hasn’t coached Jones before, but he already laid out how the Cardinals plan to cover for Brooks’ absence. It’s going to be a committee.
“Next man up. I mean, the show goes on, right?" LaFleur said.
"(WR) Reggie’s (Virgil) got a few reps there versus L.A. Didn’t get as many yesterday, but a good week of practice by him.
You can do it by committee. (WR) Kendrick (Bourne) can play some X too if we need that.
Obviously, (WR) Simi (Fehoko) has done kind of both, but it’ll be by committee.”
That’s the reality for a Cardinals team sitting at 2-5 and dead last in explosive play rates and yards after reception after seven weeks. Jones won’t suddenly fix those numbers, but he does give Arizona another veteran body in a room that has leaned young and inexperienced.
The Cardinals face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8, and Jones could be ready to suit up by Sunday if he gets up to speed quickly enough.
In Other News...
Cardinals QB Debate Just Got Harder To Ignore
Mike LaFleur made it clear the Cardinals are sticking with Jacoby Brissett for now, confirming the veteran will start against the Cowboys as Arizona tries to steady an offense that has been moving the ball without finishing enough drives. LaFleur said the issue is less about getting into scoring position and more about what happens once the Cardinals get there, a distinction that has become harder to ignore as the season has worn on.
The pressure around the quarterback spot has only grown with fan noise pushing rookie Carson Beck into the conversation, but LaFleur said there have been no talks about benching Brissett. For now, Arizona is choosing continuity over change, even as the red-zone frustration lingers and the offense keeps leaving points on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Carson Beck Timeline Just Became A Real Cardinals Debate
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Arizona sits 2-5, and the longer the offense stays in limbo, the more Beck becomes part of the conversation around the franchises future. Jacoby Brissett has helped stabilize the position enough to keep the Cardinals afloat, but there is still no long-term answer in place, which is why the timeline on Beck is now being watched so closely around the building. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Keep Facing The Same Offensive Question As Pressure Builds
The Cardinals are still sorting through the same offensive questions that have followed them through the last stretch, and the pressure is only getting louder as the season moves on. Mike LaFleur made it clear Jacoby Brissett remains the starter, a decision that keeps the focus on a group trying to find cleaner execution and better finishing when it matters most.
Arizonas recent struggles have not been pinned on one player alone, and that is part of what makes the situation so tricky. The offense has had chances to turn drives into something more meaningful, but the conversation around the unit keeps circling back to the same issue: enough movement to threaten, not enough payoff to relieve the strain that comes with each passing week. [Read more 🡒]