It is without a doubt that injuries plagued the Cardinals secondary in 2025, and while there were more flaws than one, it definitely played a role in the dismal three-win season that the team endured.
It got so bad to the point where Arizona was relying on a pair of rookies to showout against some of the toughest wide receiver competition in the league. Will Johnson (Michigan) and Denzel Burke (Ohio State) were duking it out against some of the league’s best in Davante Adams, Puka Nacua, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Injuries to cornerbacks suck as Max Melton and Garrett Williams forced former head coach Jonathan Gannon to rely on youth, and while the two (Johnson and Burke) showed that they could be the future at the position, Arizona would prefer to have their main starters in the lineup.
Luckily for new head coach Mike LaFleur, the Cardinals may be getting lucky with one of their injuries.
MORE: Cardinals GM has a funny response when asked about Carson Beck starting immediately
MORE: Here's what an ideal contract extension for Jacoby Brissett would (and should) look like for the Cardinals
MORE: ESPN predicts when Cardinals fans can expect to see Carson Beck under center
Garrett Williams tore his achilles late in the 2025 season, an injury that would usually sideline someone for at least a year. But LaFleur announced that Williams would have a chance to return for the team’s first game, instead of sitting out until October, or even November.
Getting Williams back would be huge for the secondary, as he could fill in where Burke played last year, and line up on the other side of the field from Will Johnson who looks to build off a solid rookie campaign.
Williams, 25, appeared in ten games for the Cardinals where he recorded 46 tackles and five passes defended.
