Holy smokes, what a way to kick off the push towards the season! Two absolute key guys for the Arizona Cardinals, left tackle Paris Johnson and linebacker Josh Sweat, just landed on the physically unable to perform list. And get this: both are dealing with knee issues. You hear “PUP list” and “knee issues” in the same breath, and your gut just clenches up a little, doesn’t it? Especially when you’re talking about players who are supposed to be anchors for that team.
Coach’s “Maintenance” and the Raised Eyebrows
Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur, trying to keep a lid on any panic, really played it cool when he talked to reporters. He didn’t make it sound like Johnson or Sweat are going to miss a ton of action during opening camp. In fact, he straight-up said the Cardinals are going to “be smart” with them at this point in the calendar. But then he doubled down in a way that had some folks scratching their heads. For Paris Johnson, LaFleur’s quote was wild: “The Paris thing, that is honestly nothing,” he said, according to the team’s website. “It’s really just maintenance. He’ll be back before you know it.” “Honestly nothing”? Dude’s on the PUP list with a knee issue! That’s a pretty strong contradiction right there.
It’s the same vibe with Josh Sweat. LaFleur mentioned Sweat is “in great spirits and feeling good.” Which, hey, that’s great to hear! But “feeling good” and “not practicing because you’re on the PUP list” are two very different things when you’re gearing up for a brutal NFL season. You want your stars out there, on the field, getting reps and building chemistry. Being sidelined for even “maintenance” still means missing valuable time, especially for knee problems, no matter how minor they claim they are. Every rep counts.
What This Means for Early Season Readiness
Now, the Cardinals are set to practice for the next four days before they take a rest day on Monday. And yep, you guessed it, neither Johnson nor Sweat will be out there for any of those sessions. LaFleur tried to reassure everyone, suggesting they won’t be out much longer than that, which is good news if it holds true. But an absence is an absence. It also wasn’t just those two; the Cardinals also put cornerback Garrett Williams, who’s dealing with an Achilles issue, and tight end Tip Reiman, with an ankle problem, on the PUP list to open camp. That’s a handful of guys, right off the bat, not fully participating.
Look, you want your roster healthy and hungry, especially in the early stages when everyone is fighting for spots and getting into game shape. Losing two foundational players like Johnson and Sweat, even for a short time, makes you wonder how ready they’ll truly be when the games actually start. Getting them back quickly, and truly healthy, is going to be absolutely massive for the Cardinals as they prep for the season ahead. Fans will be watching every update like a hawk to see when these guys hit the field.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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