Cardinals Injury Report: Key Starters Sidelined Ahead of Week 15 Matchup
GLENDALE - The Arizona Cardinals' 3-10 record tells part of the story. The Week 15 injury report fills in the rest - and it’s not pretty.
Thirteen players are listed, with eight already ruled out. That includes some of the team’s most impactful young talent on both sides of the ball.
Let’s start with the headliners: Marvin Harrison Jr. and Paris Johnson Jr. - two former Ohio State standouts and pillars of Arizona’s offensive rebuild - won’t be suiting up. Harrison is set to miss his fourth game in five weeks due to a lingering heel issue, while Johnson, who’s been a steady presence on the offensive line all season, is out with a knee injury. That’s a brutal blow for a Cardinals offense already fighting an uphill battle, especially with one of the league’s top defenses coming to town.
And it doesn't stop there.
On the defensive side, Max Melton, the team’s top cornerback, is also out with a heel injury. That’s a major loss for a secondary that’s already been stretched thin. Melton’s absence leaves a sizable gap in coverage, particularly against a Houston offense that, while inconsistent, has shown the ability to exploit mismatches on the perimeter.
Here’s the full breakdown of Arizona’s Week 15 injury report:
Out:
- Jalen Thompson (Hamstring)
- *Marvin Harrison Jr. * (Heel)
- *Paris Johnson Jr. * (Knee)
- Max Melton (Heel)
- Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (Ankle)
- Evan Brown (Personal)
- Bilal Nichols (Knee)
- Xavier Weaver (Hamstring)
Questionable:
- Walter Nolen (Knee)
- Christian Jones (Knee)
- Elijah Higgins (Illness)
- Emari Demercado (Ankle)
- *L.J.
Collier* (Knee)
Of the players listed as questionable, Walter Nolen is the name to watch. The 22-year-old defensive lineman has been a difference-maker when healthy - and that’s not an overstatement.
In just four games, Nolen has already stacked up a sack, an interception, and even found the end zone. That kind of production is rare from a player his size and position, and it’s exactly what Arizona’s defense has been missing.
Without Nolen, the Cardinals have struggled to stop the run and generate consistent pressure. If he’s able to go, his return could provide a much-needed spark for a front seven that’s been outmatched for much of the season. Against a Houston team with a middling pass rush and a tendency to get bogged down in the trenches, Nolen’s presence could tip the balance.
Meanwhile, quarterback Jacoby Brissett remains a storyline to monitor. While not directly tied to the injury report, his play down the stretch could have implications beyond this season. With several teams expected to be in the market for a veteran signal-caller, Brissett has a chance to make a compelling case if he continues to perform well amidst the adversity.
Injuries are part of the game, but for Arizona, the timing and volume of these setbacks couldn’t be worse. As the Cardinals look to snap a five-game losing streak, they’ll have to do it without several of their most important contributors. That’s a tall order - but in the NFL, stranger things have happened.