The Arizona Cardinals already entered the season with offensive line woes. Unfortunately, those problems have only further compounded just four weeks into the 2026 season. Most notably, Arizona will now be without Paris Johnson Jr. for the remainder of the season. The Cardinals' left tackle tore his left biceps on the very final drive in their Week 4 loss to the New York Giants.
Johnson was an integral piece to this offensive line and a significant reason why they didn't rank near the very bottom of the league. To make matters worse, the Cardinals could also potentially be without right guard Isaiah Adams in their Week 5 matchup against the Detroit Lions. Adams was carted off the field with an ankle injury.
According to Zach Gershman of azcardinals.com, Jon Gaines II will start should Adams ultimately be unable to suit up. But who Mike LaFleur will start in place of Johnson at left tackle for the remainder of the season is a far more significant question -- he'll now turn to seventh-round rookie Jayden Williams.
Jayden Williams is the silver lining to brutal Paris Johnson Jr. injury
The Cardinals' offensive line isn't great to begin with. They'll be worse without Johnson and potentially Adams, hurting for both reliable top-end talent and depth. That said, having to start a seventh-round rookie won't be as drastic of a downgrade as one would typically expect.
Williams already looked the part of a hidden gem in the offseason. Not only was his place on this 53-man roster surprisingly secure, but he was also making a compelling case to start right away.
Ultimately, it was Elijah Wilkinson who earned the starting nod over Williams at right tackle. But now it's reportedly Williams who will earn the starting spot at left tackle over Josh Fryar, currently listed as second string at the position behind Johnson.
In more ways than one, the Cardinals' late-game collapse and Week 4 loss to the Giants signaled a shift in their season. Not only does Arizona have an active three-game losing streak and is now behind in the NFC West at 1-3, but they are also losing key pieces to what was already a flawed roster.
The silver lining is they have these rookies like Williams to fill the void, giving them an increased opportunity for both player evaluation and development. Johnson is only 25 and remains a key part of this young core, but eventually the best-case scenario would be for the Cardinals to find out they have yet another quality starter in Williams. Then, they could slide him back to his more natural position at right tackle.
At the very least, Williams should be a quality rotational piece for this Cardinals O-line for years to come. While the injury to Johnson is brutal, the fact that Williams is emerging as that piece to replace him is telling about the value the Cardinals found at the end of the draft.
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