Arizona just took a gut punch with news that safety Joey Blount and tight end Kenny Yeboah are both officially on Injured Reserve, ending their seasons before they even had a chance to begin. This is a massive blow, taking out two experienced guys from the roster right as things were ramping up for the grind ahead. It’s a brutal reminder of how quickly the NFL can flip the script on a team’s plans.
The Heartbreak of Another Lost Season for Joey Blount
Man, talk about bad luck. Joey Blount was a special teams demon, the kind of player who might be listed low on the depth chart but showed his full worth every single snap he was out there. He was a fan favorite for a reason, always hunting down returners with an intensity you love to see. He’s played 38 NFL games, chalking up 20 total tackles and two forced fumbles. But get this, for the second year in a row, he’s dealing with a season-ending neck injury, both happening in training camp. Last season, a Week 1 neck injury knocked him out for good. Now, it’s happened again, crushing any hope he had for 2026. The only way he sees the field this year is if he sits out the entire season, gets released via an injury settlement, and then re-signed. That’s a long shot, and it just plain sucks for a guy who puts it all on the line.
Yeboah’s Experience Goes Missing, New Faces Step Up
Kenny Yeboah was supposed to be a key piece for the Cardinals, a five-year veteran signed in free agency to be their TE3. The guy is an exceptional blocker, the kind you rely on to extend the offensive line and open up holes downfield, snagging a pass here and there when needed. But he’s also now done for the season with a training camp injury, following a similar fate last year with the Detroit Lions, where he missed all of 2025. Both Yeboah and Blount have now suffered back-to-back training camp injuries, forcing them to miss two seasons in a row. Talk about a tough break.
To fill these suddenly gaping holes, the Cardinals made some corresponding moves, bringing in tight end Shawn Bowman and linebacker Eugene Asante. Bowman, a 6-foot-5, 265-pound Rutgers alum, went undrafted in 2024, signed with the Jaguars’ practice squad, and then played for the Orlando Storm in the UFL this past spring, where he had seven catches for 53 yards. Asante, a 6-foot, 218-pound fifth-year senior from North Carolina and Auburn, also went undrafted in 2025. He bounced around with the Dolphins (injured in camp), Browns, and Falcons before landing with the Houston Gamblers of the UFL this spring, where he recorded 34 total tackles, two forced fumbles, and two batted passes. With Yeboah out and lingering issues with Tip Reiman, that tight end depth is absolutely critical right now. It’s on these new guys to step up and show what they’ve got to make an impact for the upcoming season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Revenge of the Birds.
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