The season of both of the Cardinals starting offensive tackles is over.
Left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and right tackle Jonah Williams were both placed on Injured Reserve with knee injuries on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, coach Jonathan Gannon had already ruled out both for Saturday’s game in Los Angeles.
The Cardinals also promoted practice squad offensive tackle Jackson Barton to the active roster. Barton is expected to fill Williams’ role at right tackle, with Kelvin Beachum as the left tackle in place of Johnson.
The other open roster spot was filled when the Cardinals signed outside linebacker Benton Whitley from the New York Giants practice squad.
The Cardinals re-signed cornerback Darren Hall, who spent the preseason with the team, to the practice squad. They lost offensive tackle Charlie Heck from the practice squad when he signed with the 49ers.
Williams’ first season in Arizona was sandwiched between two right knee injuries. The right tackle spent the first two months of the season on IR after getting hurt in the season opener against the Bills. Having made his return to the active roster following the bye week, Williams started four games at right tackle before injuring the same knee in the third quarter last weekend against the Panthers.
The game against the Panthers marked the first time Johnson missed a game in his young NFL career. The left tackle injured his left knee on a James Conner touchdown run late in the Week 15 game against the Patriots.
Beachum filled in for Johnson last weekend and is now slated to make his 11th start of the season, most in Williams’ sted. Barton had started against the Lions when both Johnson and Beachum were hurt and stepped in in place of Williams in Carolina. The Cardinals also have rookie offensive tackle Christian Jones on the roster.
“It’s unfortunate to have two starting tackles out,” quarterback Kyler Murray said. “But I’ve got confidence in Beach, Jackson, or whoever else is in there. They’ve had plenty of reps, veteran guys, I have confidence in them.”
With running back James Conner nursing a knee injury and fellow back Trey Benson missing Sunday’s outing with an ankle injury, the offensive line shuffling could make it a challenge to establish a run game against the Rams’ stout defensive front.
