Cardinals training camp: CBs have to step up after two more placed on injured reserve

There’s an old cliché in pro football that just when you think you have depth at a position, suddenly it’s not as much anymore.

That’s certainly what’s hit the Arizona Cardinals‘ cornerbacks room after Sean Murphy-Bunting was lost for the year in the offseason with a non-football-related knee injury, followed by Starling Thomas V and Jaden Davis landing on injured reserve Sunday, also with knee injuries.

Thomas, who started 15 of the 17 games he played last season, tore his ACL when he landed awkwardly at the end of Saturday’s practice, while Davis was injured in practice Thursday. He was a seventh-round pick in 2024 and spent the entire season on the practice squad.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed that Thomas will miss the entire season, although he said there’s a possibility Davis could return later in the season. Being placed on injured reserve prior to the cut to 53 normally means a player can’t return to the team that year.

However, there is a seldom-used procedure where a player can be released with an injury settlement within five days of being placed on IR and can then be re-signed after missing time based on when the injury happened and what percentage of the salary was paid in the settlement. Of course, the player is also eligible to sign with another team to the roster or practice squad.

Be that as it may, injuries are a harsh reality of the NFL, especially when they come in bunches at one position group.

“I feel awful and bad for those guys,” Gannon said. “These guys go through a lot and put a lot in and it’s just a tough break, but they’ll do everything they can do to get back and both of them will be back at some point.

“Training camp, during the season, it’s a known unknown. You know there’s going to be guys that get hurt. You don’t know who and don’t know what, and all 32 teams deal with it … It’s probably the worst part of my job when you talk to them.”

It’s especially difficult for Thomas, who is in the final year of his three-year rookie contract and will be eligible for restricted free agency in March coming off an ACL injury.

Noting that “we’ll move on,” when asked how the cornerbacks room is built to handle the losses, Gannon said, “Good. There’s been big-time competition in that room. I like where the room’s trending. I think they’re doing a good job and it’s only going to increase right now. The business side of it opens up a spot because Star was going to be on this team. He’s played a lot of good football for us, so just going to have to develop our guys. Guys are going to have to step up.

“Their mindset really doesn’t change. Obviously, you’re human. You feel bad about your teammate, but you also know that there’s opportunity there, too.”

One player to watch is Elijah Jones, who missed his rookie season in 2024 as a third-round pick because of an ankle injury.

Asked what Jones was able to learn last year, Gannon said, “You learn how to be a pro, honestly. A big thing for him with me was just his lifestyle habits, meaning it’s hard for him to keep on weight, so he had to change his diet. He’s got to be consistent with that. That’s hard for a lot of guys, but he’s done a really good job with that.

“He’s more along with the playbook than he was last year, just like all of our guys, and he’s very smart, but I think he feels more comfortable with the techniques that he’s playing. And with him, I tell him, ‘Cut it loose’ and I want to see him make some plays here. He had a good week. I’m looking forward to his trajectory here as we get going.”

Then there’s Kei’Trel Clark, whose career began as a rookie starter in 2023, was benched, and then played mostly special teams in 15 games last season.

Gannon said, “I do like where he is. I really liked what he did the last two fast days. We had a conversation, ‘What are you seeing?’ ‘What do I need to work on?’ And when that matches up with what he says, that’s from my eye, Nick’s (defensive coordinator Nick Rallis) eye, Smitty’s (cornerbacks coach Ryan Smith) eye, Monti’s (general manager Monti Ossenfort) eye, PT (defensive backs coach Patrick Toney), Book (defensive quality control coach Ronald Booker), all those guys, that’s typically a good thing.

“So, he knows he’s focused on what he needs to work on to improve his game and he’s another one that’s gonna get every opportunity to show us what he can do. … I know what he can do. He can play good football.”

Surely, rookie second-round pick Will Johnson and 2024 third-round pick Max Melton will be counted on to step up.

Saying Melton “has a really high ceiling” and that Johnson has “done some good things in spring and now,” Gannon concluded, “It’s just going to be like all our guys. How much better can you get every day?”

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: CBs have to step up after two more placed on injured reserve

Cardinals training camp: CBs have to step up after two more placed on injured reserve

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