Cardinals left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. out for season with torn biceps
In short
Arizona Cardinals left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. will miss the rest of the season after tearing his left biceps in Sunday's 36-24 loss to the New York Giants, coach Mike LaFleur said. LaFleur said Johnson will have surgery soon. Johnson, a 25-year-old former No. 6 overall pick, was hurt on the game's final drive and was replaced by rookie Jayden Williams.
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Arizona Cardinals left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. will miss the rest of the season after tearing his left biceps in Sunday's 36-24 loss to the New York Giants, according to the Associated Press, citing first-year coach Mike LaFleur. Reuters also reported Johnson was out for the season. [ 1 , 2 ]
LaFleur said Monday that Johnson would have surgery soon so he can begin his recovery. “I feel for him — just all these guys,” LaFleur said. “It sucks for him, first and foremost. It sucks obviously for the Arizona Cardinals, our offense, this team. But it's NFL football — here we are in October and the show goes on.” [ 1 , 3 ]
Johnson was hurt on the final drive of the game, holding his left arm as he walked off the field, the AP reported. He was replaced by rookie Jayden Williams, a seventh-round pick out of Mississippi. [ 1 ]
The 25-year-old Johnson has started 47 games for the Cardinals over the past four seasons, including the first four games this season, and was the No. 6 overall pick out of Ohio State in 2023, according to the AP. Newsweek, citing ESPN's Adam Schefter, reported that tests on Monday revealed the torn biceps and that Johnson will miss the rest of the season. [ 1 , 3 ]
Newsweek reported that Johnson is heading into the penultimate year of his rookie deal after the Cardinals exercised his fifth-year option this offseason, and that a multi-million dollar extension he was expected to sign in the coming months would likely be put on hold while he recovers and rehabs. Newsweek added that he was graded at 76.3 by Pro Football Focus, 10th among qualifying offensive tackles, before the injury. [ 3 ]
With Johnson out, Newsweek reported the Cardinals will turn to either Williams or 2025 undrafted free agent Josh Fryar. The team has not said who will start, according to the documents. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
Johnson is the Cardinals' starting left tackle and was in the first year after the team exercised his fifth-year option, so his absence reshapes the offensive line for the rest of the season. It also affects the timing of any long-term extension talks, Newsweek reported, and puts a rookie seventh-round pick or an undrafted free agent in line for his snaps. The injury is the main roster development for Arizona coming out of Week 4.
Key facts
- Paris Johnson Jr. tore his left biceps in the Cardinals' 36-24 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday. [ 1 ]
- Johnson is out for the season and will have surgery soon, coach Mike LaFleur said. [ 1 ]
- Johnson was hurt on the final drive of the game and replaced by rookie Jayden Williams, a seventh-round pick out of Mississippi. [ 1 ]
- The 25-year-old Johnson has started 47 games for Arizona over the past four seasons and was the No. 6 overall pick out of Ohio State in 2023. [ 1 ]
- Newsweek, citing ESPN's Adam Schefter, reported tests on Monday confirmed the torn biceps and that Johnson will miss the rest of the season. [ 3 ]
- Johnson is in the penultimate year of his rookie deal after the Cardinals exercised his fifth-year option, and Newsweek reported an expected multi-million dollar extension would likely be put on hold. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the long-term contract extension Newsweek says Johnson was expected to sign will be delayed. Newsweek frames the extension as expected and says talks will likely be set aside, but no team or agent confirmation is given, and no other document mentions a contract.
- When Johnson's surgery will take place and how long his recovery will last. Only the Associated Press reports that surgery is planned soon; no date or recovery timeline is given.
- Who will start at left tackle for the rest of the season. Newsweek names Jayden Williams and 2025 undrafted free agent Josh Fryar as options but does not say the team has decided.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The Associated Press reports that Johnson tore his left biceps in Sunday's loss and will have surgery soon, citing coach Mike LaFleur. [ 1 ]
- Reuters publishes a headline reporting Johnson is out for the season with a biceps injury. [ 2 ]
- Newsweek reports tests on Monday confirmed the torn biceps, citing ESPN's Adam Schefter, and outlines the contract and replacement implications. [ 3 ]