The Cardinals’ secondary just took a brutal hit.
Second-year cornerback Will Johnson is likely out for the rest of the 2026 season after leaving Sunday’s Week 2 loss to the Seahawks in the fourth quarter with a neck injury. Head coach Mike LaFleur told reporters Monday that he didn’t know whether Johnson will need surgery, but said the corner is likely to miss the entire year.
That leaves Arizona staring at a major adjustment in the back end, especially with Garrett Williams still working his way back. Williams was activated off the PUP list before the end of preseason, but he has not played in either of the Cardinals’ first two games as he continues recovering from the season-ending Achilles injury he suffered in 2025.
If Williams is healthy enough to return, the Cardinals may have to decide whether he goes back to the slot or shifts outside. LaFleur had previously said Williams would start inside when healthy, but Johnson’s injury could change that plan.
If Williams stays in the slot, Denzel Burke would likely move to the boundary after filling in for Williams during his absence. In base defense, that could leave Burke and Max Melton as the primary corners, though Melton’s status is another concern after he exited with a toe injury and was labeled day-to-day.
Arizona’s depth options include Kei’Trel Clark, Kalen King and Starling Thomas. Clark made the 53-man roster as a surprise, King was recently brought up from the practice squad, and LaFleur suggested Monday that Thomas may be next in line for that kind of move.
Burke and Clark both have slot experience, while Thomas is more naturally suited to boundary work. So while the loss of Johnson hurts, the Cardinals do have a few different ways to patch together the room.
There’s also the possibility of Dadrion Taylor-Demerson seeing a bigger role. He has slot experience as a safety and hasn’t been getting many snaps behind Budda Baker and Andrew Wingard. Taylor-Demerson played well last season, and this injury situation could give him a path to more playing time.
How much Arizona changes its defensive approach is another piece of the puzzle. Nick Rallis hasn’t been a heavy blitz coordinator through two weeks, with the Cardinals’ 6.5% blitz rate ranking sixth-lowest in the league, and Arizona was around the middle of the pack in that area last season as well.
But the pass rush already has work to do, and losing another key cornerback could push the Cardinals to get a little more aggressive. Giving quarterbacks extra time against a thin secondary is a dangerous recipe.
The defense had questions coming into 2026 already. After Sunday’s 31-point performance and now the loss of Johnson, those questions only got louder.
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