Arizona places the third-year tackle on IR at the end of the season

The Arizona Cardinals they officially called it a season for left tackle Paris Johnson Jr., setting up a third-year offensive lineman in reserve for the injured due to a knee injury suffered in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Rams. The move, announced Saturday, ensures Johnson will miss the team’s final two games: a Week 17 road game against the Cincinnati Bengals and the regular season finale in Los Angeles.

The 24-year-old injured himself on December 7 against the Rams and has not played since. Arizona had already ruled him out for Sunday’s game before being named injured reserve. This is the second straight season Johnson will end up on injured reserve after also missing the final two games of the 2024 season with a knee problem.

Before the injury, Johnson was one of the Cardinals’ most reliable players. He appeared in 12 games and made 12 starts in 2025, playing every offensive snap in every appearance. Pro Football Focus ranked him between 20th and 21st among 82–83 qualifying offensive tackles, with a pass blocking rating as high as 15th in the league. On 807 offensive snaps, Johnson allowed five sacks. He has started 43 straight games since his rookie season.

Selected sixth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, Johnson is in the third year of a four-year, $30.36 million contract that included a $19.08 million signing bonus and a five-year option through the 2027 season. He is also eligible for a contract extension after the 2025 season, making his long-term status a significant decision for the organization this offseason.

In corresponding roster moves, the Cardinals promoted defensive lineman Zachary Carter from the practice squad to the active roster. A third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Carter has appeared in 47 career games with 16 starts, recording 73 tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks and five quarterback sacks. He made two tackles in two games with Arizona. The team also elevated cornerback Jayden Davis and running back Steven Sims from the practice squad. Davis contributed two tackles in his only appearance, while Sims has 78 career receptions for 704 yards and five touchdowns in 53 games since 2019.

Rookie Josh Friar handled most of the left tackle duties in Johnson’s absence, and Demontrei Jacobs also rotated. Friar has played 70 snaps over the last two games compared to Jacobs’ 53, and has been better in pass protection.

Johnson’s knee problem adds another name to Arizona’s already long list of injuries this year. The Cardinals now have 22 players on injured reserve, with cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting also on the non-football injured list. Starting offensive linemen Will Hernandez and Jonah Williams are also on IR. In Week 16, Arizona used more than 80 players, the highest total in the NFL.