Arizona Cardinals starting left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. will miss the remainder of the 2026 NFL season after suffering a torn biceps in his left arm late in the Cardinals’ 36-24 loss against the New York Giants. He is expected to have surgery.
“It’s going to happen soon to get the process going,” Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur said Monday, Oct. 5, at the team’s practice facility.
“I feel for him, obviously. I mean, just all these guys. You know, it sucks. It sucks for him, first and foremost. It sucks, obviously, for the Arizona Cardinals, our offense, this team, but you know, NFL football. Here we are in October, the show goes on.”
Rookie seventh-round pick Jayden Williams stepped in to finish the game at left tackle.
Offensive lineman Josh Fryar
also provides additional depth on the roster.
Johnson started every game his rookie season after being drafted sixth overall in 2023. But he has missed at least three games due to injury every year since. He played 14 games in 2025 and 12 games last season.
The Cardinals, in April, picked up his fifth-year option for 2027, but his future with the team beyond next year is uncertain. Injuries will complicate any extension talks next offseason.
LaFleur was unable to provide updates on safety Andrew Wingard (knee) and offensive lineman Isaiah Adams (ankle), who were carted off in the first half and did not return.
He said Adams is likely to miss the upcoming home game against the Detroit Lions.
LaFleur shows ‘grace’ toward NFL official who cursed at McBride
The NFL official who shouted expletives at Cardinals tight end Trey McBride is being put in a timeout. The league suspended two officials for unprofessional conduct on Monday, including veteran line judge Jeff Seeman, who cursed at McBride a day earlier during the team’s loss at the Giants, and referee Adrian Hill, who was involved in a confrontation with a player in the Miami-Minnesota game.
Seeman was suspended for two games. Hill was suspended for one.
The suspensions were issued by NFL vice president of officiating Ramon George.
“Yeah, a tough one for me,” LaFleur said. “Obviously you hate to see it. For obvious reasons. I mean, I don’t need to go further than that, but I do want to give the man a little bit of grace, too.
"I know Jeff, he’s a good man, so it’s unfortunate to happen. It can’t happen, obviously, and I’ll leave it at that.”
Seeman was captured by a sideline camera shouting obscenities at McBride, who thought he was interfered with by Giants cornerback Dru Phillips on a third-and-8 pass that fell incomplete.
After noticing the camera, McBride pointed to it and laughed.
“This kind of behavior from an official towards a player is unacceptable,” NFL Players’ Association executive director JC Tretter posted on social media. “Players are consistently held accountable when the roles are reversed. We expect the NFL to hold officials to the same standard.”
Hill’s suspension stems from an incident with Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson, who was pushed into the official toward the end of a play, knocking him to the ground. Wilson tried to help Hill to his feet, but Hill jumped up and got in the player’s face.
Jacoby Brissett struggles with blitz
Jacoby Brissett was an inefficient 5 of 17 passing for 43 yards and two interceptions when blitzed by the Giants. LaFleur said he knows other teams will attempt to copy the approach to get after the Cardinals quarterback.
“I don't think I’m sharing secrets to Detroit or the next team,” LaFleur said, “but you know, when you get hit with something, you’re not having success, it’s a copycat league in some aspects. You’re always prepared for that.
“Like, hey, ‘What did we do well against what coverages?’ And most likely, you’re probably not going to see that stuff next week. And what did we not do well? And there’s no faking that. The stats say it, the analytics say it, the tape says it, our eyes all said it, so we got to be better.
“It starts with me in terms of the schematics, giving them a better advantage, giving them, like I said, better clarity. I know I use that word a lot, but that means something to me.”
LaFleur not considering QB change
LaFleur declined to look beyond the upcoming game when asked what would need to happen this season for him to consider switching quarterbacks.
“Focused on this week and trying to be as good as we could be,” LaFleur said. “We were 12 feet away from scoring 30, but we didn’t, and we lost. And so we got to improve from it, and work to be 1-0 this week.”
Jeremiah Love continues to manage ankle injury
Jeremiah Love tweaked his right ankle during Sunday's game, LaFleur said. Love's left ankle has been bothering the running back since the preseason.
“Yeah, it’s a different one,” LaFleur said. “He’s been dealing with it for a little bit, but it’s just a management-type thing and it’s like he tweaks it and then he feels fine. So we’re just trying to manage it. He’s doing a good job with it, too.”
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals lose key starter for season. LaFleur talks ref suspension
