The Cardinals’ edge rush got a little shakier heading into Sunday.
Arizona elevated outside linebacker Cameron Robertson from the practice squad to the active roster for its Week 4 matchup against the New York Giants, a move that lands at an awkward time for Josh Sweat. Sweat is questionable with a groin injury, and the timing of the roster move adds another layer of concern around his status.
Cardinals safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson was already ruled out Friday, and final inactives won’t be announced until 8:30 AM MST on Sunday, 90 minutes before kickoff.
For Sweat, this is the latest twist in a season that hasn’t really gotten off the ground. He sat out all of the offseason while trying to stay healthy for the regular season, and he’s also been managing a knee injury that has followed him throughout his career. That knee issue hasn’t stopped him from producing before - in his first season with Arizona, he piled up 12 sacks - but the new groin problem is another matter.
Sweat’s week pointed in the wrong direction. He had his usual veteran rest day Wednesday, returned for a full practice Thursday, then was limited Friday. He also didn’t take part in any of Arizona’s offseason work, from voluntary workouts to preseason games, even though the team consistently said he would be ready for Week 1.
He was active when the season started, but he hasn’t looked close to full strength, and the production reflects that. Through Arizona’s first three games, Sweat has been nearly invisible, with just three tackles and no sacks.
“I think he's just trending in the right direction,” Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said of Sweat after Week 2. “He hasn't had a lot of practice time.
That was, I guess, you could say scheduled. That was the way it was going to be, and he's just going to continue to ramp up.
I look forward to seeing him improve just like I look forward to seeing all these guys improve each week.”
The offseason buzz around Sweat never really died down, either. Trade rumors started picking up after the Cardinals fired head coach Jonathan Gannon, who played a role in Sweat signing with Arizona in 2025, and then resurfaced again over the summer when teams reportedly checked in on his availability. Arizona held onto him, but so far in 2026 the pass rusher has been slow to deliver.
That’s been part of a bigger problem for the Cardinals. Their pass rush has been quiet overall, with the team tied for the sixth-fewest sacks in the league at four and sitting at just 20 pressures, which ranks in the bottom six across the NFL.
One more wrinkle: Sweat has also had a “minor procedure” on an undisclosed body part, though he said it was not his knee.
In Other News...
Trey McBride Was At The Center Of A Brutal Cardinals Officiating Controversy
The Cardinals Week 4 game against the Giants produced more than just another tense finish, as tight end Trey McBride found himself at the center of an ugly sideline scene in the fourth quarter. A video that quickly spread online showed a sideline official using profane language directed at McBride, turning an already heated moment into one that drew attention well beyond the field.
McBrides teammates stepped in and held him back on the sideline after the interaction, underscoring how quickly the exchange escalated. For Arizona, the incident added another layer of frustration to a game that already had plenty of emotion, and it is the kind of officiating controversy that tends to linger long after the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Loss To Giants Turned On One Brutal Late Flag
The Cardinals Week 4 loss to the Giants came down to a single late swing, and it was one of those flags that can linger long after the final whistle. During a critical moment late in the third quarter, Arizona was penalized for holding on defensive lineman Dante Stills, a call that extended New Yorks drive and helped set up a touchdown that changed the lead.
Mike LaFleur has already pointed to the teams penalty issues as a problem that needs fixing, and this was the sort of sequence that makes that point hard to ignore. Arizona had been in position to get off the field, only to watch the drive stay alive and the momentum turn, leaving the Cardinals with another reminder that discipline has to hold up in key spots. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Put Josh Sweat Right Back At Center Of A Big Test
Josh Sweat is back in the mix for Arizona at a time when the Cardinals need every edge they can get on defense. The outside linebacker, who had been dealing with a groin injury, was limited in practice but remained active for the game against the New York Giants, a sign the team is willing to trust him in a meaningful spot despite the recent concern.
The bigger picture around Sweat has only added to the attention. Trade rumors swirled around him in the offseason, but general manager Monti Ossenfort has made it clear the Cardinals have no interest in moving him, and the defender is only in the second year of his four-year contract. For a team trying to stabilize its pass rush and keep its core intact, having Sweat available matters for more than just one Sunday. [Read more 🡒]