The Arizona Cardinals suffered a significant setback when cornerback Starling Thomas V tore his left ACL during practice on Friday. The team confirmed the severity of the injury by placing him on injured reserve on Sunday, effectively ruling him out for the entire season.
This marks the second ACL tear for Thomas, who had previously suffered a similar injury to his right knee during college. His absence is particularly impactful, given that he had started 22 games over the last two seasons and played 75 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.
Cardinals Scramble to Reinforce Secondary Amid String of Cornerback Injuries and Setbacks
Thomas’s injury compounds an already dire situation in the Cardinals’ secondary. Veteran cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting had already been ruled out for the year due to a knee injury sustained during the offseason.
The team also placed rookie cornerback Jaden Davis, a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, on injured reserve due to another knee injury. These losses have left the Cardinals scrambling to fill crucial roles in their defensive backfield as they head into the season.
Starling Thomas V (NFL)In an attempt to reinforce their depleted cornerback corps, the Cardinals signed Steven Gilmore Jr., who previously played in the UFL and had a stint with the Detroit Lions during the 2023 preseason.
Gilmore, the younger brother of NFL veteran Stephon Gilmore, brings some experience and upside, though he remains unproven at the NFL level. His signing offers depth, but the team still has an open roster spot that it may use to further bolster the position.
Gannon Stresses Resilience as Young Cornerbacks Battle for Key Defensive Roles
Head coach Jonathan Gannon addressed the team’s injury woes, noting that injuries are an unpredictable but inevitable part of football. “Football, in training camp, during the season, it’s a known-unknown,” Gannon said, emphasizing that every NFL team faces similar challenges. His remarks reflect a pragmatic approach to roster instability and the importance of adaptability as the team looks to move forward amid adversity.
Despite the setbacks, the Cardinals are leaning on younger talent to step up. Max Melton and Will Johnson, both second-round picks in the last two drafts, are competing for starting cornerback roles alongside Garrett Williams, a 2023 third-round selection.
The team is hoping these young players can rise to the occasion and solidify the secondary. Meanwhile, Starling Thomas remains hopeful, posting on social media that he is keeping his faith strong: “God is good. Will always trust him in the good times and bad times.”
