Jackson Barton has had a roller-coaster of a season, one that will end with him on Injured Reserve.
The tackle spent most of the season on the practice squad — or more specifically, the PS-IR — while sandwiching a solid right side start against the Lions in Week 3 and then returning to step in for Jonah Williams again at right tackle for a chunk of the game in Carolina in Week 16 and to start in L.A. in Week 17.
But Barton hurt his ankle in practice severely enough on Friday that the team — which had just promoted him to the active roster when Williams himself went to IR — put him on IR to end his season the day before the Cardinals host the 49ers in the final game of the schedule.
His likely replacement in the starting lineup is fifth-round rookie Christian Jones, who made his NFL debut last week against the Rams when the Cardinals put him in for Barton for six snaps at the spot.
Replacing Barton on the roster is veteran safety Andre Chachere, who was promoted from the practice squad. Replacing Barton as an available offensive line body is Luke Tenuta, who is one of the the Cardinals’ two practice-squad elevations for the game.
Also being elevated is running back Tony Jones, who will be the third back behind Michael Carter and DeeJay Dallas. All three of the Cardinals’ top backs — James Conner, Trey Benson and Emari Demercado — are on IR.
