The Arizona Cardinals have a jog-through Wednesday and then a regular practice Thursday, which will be the last on-field work until preparation begins on Labor Day for the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers.
When this schedule was put in place by the NFL, it was mandated that all players have off from Friday through Sunday.
Head coach Mike LaFleur provided some updates with scant details this week for players that are dealing with injuries.
James Conner
The veteran running back was placed on injured reserve Sunday with the ability to return later this season. Recovering from a serious ankle injury suffered early in the 2025 season, Conner was not placed on active/physically unable to perform when training camp opened.
He participated in drills, but
was not part of 11-on-11 work all summer.
Was Conner close to avoiding IR, during which he can’t practice and the earliest he can work and eventually play is after the fourth game?
LaFleur insisted, “He's not far off, but it just was in the best interest of the player and the organization to give him a little bit more time.”
All summer, LaFleur said Conner will know when he’s ready to play again.
“I don't overly ask him like you just know he's earned the right with all that,” he said Monday. “So we just thought it was in the best interest, he thought it was in the best interest to get a little bit more time.
Jeremiyah Love
NFL insider Mike Garafolo reported that Love is 50-50 to be able to play in Week 1. That actually coincides with what we reported after the injury when Dr. David Chao (@profootballdoc) told CardsWire that a low-grade high-ankle sprain can sideline a player for 2-to-4 weeks. Two weeks after the injury was Aug. 27, while four weeks is Sept. 10, which is three days before the game against the Chargers.
When asked if he’s confident if Love will play in Week 1, LaFleur hedged by saying, “Confident that he is progressing really well. So, he's taken another step. Took a step yesterday (Sunday). He'll take another step today (Monday).
Garrett Williams
The slot corner came off the active/PUP list Aug. 20 and LaFleur also used the “progressing” description for him.
“Progressing well,” the head coach said. “He's in good spirits. He loves ball. He loves being out there. So we're just kind of ramping up accordingly.”
As for being able to play in Week 1, he acknowledged, “I think it'll lead up all the way into Week 1.”
Sean Murphy-Bunting had been working in the slot through most of the preseason, but he was released Sunday. Even if Williams is able to get on the field against the Chargers, it’s difficult to imagine him getting a full complement of snaps.
LaFleur said Denzel Burke has been working inside the last two or weeks, so that appears to indicate the coaching staff has confidence in Max Melton, who regressed last season and also had some injury issues.
Isaiah Adams
The starting right guard has an ankle injury and didn’t make the trip to Green Bay for the joint practice and final preseason game.
LaFleur didn’t have to use the “progressing” word again because the question to him asked if Adams is progressing, to which he said, “He is. He's doing well.”
As for not traveling to Green Bay, LaFleur said, “We think the best treatment plan for Isaiah was just keeping him off that flight and stuff like that, being here and working with our team that was here.”
Similar to Williams, the coach said that would also “go right into Week 1” in terms of a potential game-day decision.
Carson Beck
After suffering an injury to his ribs on Aug. 6 in the Hall of Fame Game, Beck is back “full go” in practice this week. “Obviously, we're not tackling or anything like that, but he'll be ready to roll,” LaFleur said.
When asked Tuesday if he was able to pick up where he left off at the time of the injury, LaFleur said, “I don’t think anyone typically can pick up where they left off. But I thought he did well (Monday). It’s been a few weeks since he played and just like any other position, it’ll take time just to get back into that comfort and doing his responsibility with what we’re asking him to do.”
Will Johnson
Johnson was selected in the second round of the 2025 draft thanks to an injury history in college and then missed five games for the Cardinals.
It’s believed Johnson has an ankle injury although LaFleur said only that it’s “just a lower-body injury. We'll call it that. I'm going to stick to hockey right there because I can.”
Yes he can until regular-season injury reports begin, although some believe the league media medical information policy requires more. However, it doesn’t mean that’s what a coach has to do.
As for plans for Johnson in practice, LaFleur said (you guessed it), “We'll be smart with him in terms of what we're doing this week, but he is progressing well.”
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 6 vague Arizona Cardinals injury updates from HC Mike LaFleur
