Tag: Paris Johnson

Several Cardinals backups looking at big roles in Week 16 vs. Panthers

Expect big roles for Kelvin Beachum, Michael Carter and Krys Barnes in Week 16.

The Arizona Cardinals will play the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in Week 16. They have a lengthy injury report and it appears a few key players will be unable to play.

Linebacker Mack Wilson suffered a concussion last week and has not yet practiced this week as of Monday morning. Left tackle Paris Johnson reportedly could miss multiple weeks with a strained MCL.

Rookie running back Trey Benson has an ankle injury and has not practiced. Head coach Jonathan Gannon ruled him out on Friday before practice. Running back Emari Demercado is on injured reserve. So is punter Blake Gillikin.

So the Cardinals will have role players needing to step up in big roles.

Michael Palardy is the new punter and already has a game under his belt. DeeJay Dallas replaced Demercado as the third-down back.

They will have those roles again.

But other backups will be thrust into important roles.

Kelvin Beachum will likely start at left tackle for Johnson. He started nine games at right tackle while Jonah Williams was on injured reserve.

Krys Barnes will play for Wilson at linebacker.

Assuming Benson will miss the game on Sunday, we should expect to see Michael Carter elevated from the practice squad and playing the No. 2 back role behind James Conner, as he did late last season.

With how bad the Panthers are against the run (No. 32 in yards allowed and yards allowed per attempt), Carter could have a productive game.

The Cardinals have basically a must-win game this week. It will be critical for these regularly role players or bench players to step up and be solid in their roles. “Next man up” is a reality this week for Arizona.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

LT Paris Johnson could miss multiple games with knee injury

Johnson suffered a strained MCL against the Patriots. He will miss the game against the Panthers and perhaps more.

Arizona Cardinals left tackle Paris Johnson has missed the first two days of practice in Week 16 as the team prepares to take on the Carolina Panthers. He is listed on the injury report as having a knee injury.

According to The Sports Daily’s Kyle Odegard, former writer for the team, Johnson will miss at least one game and could miss more with a strained MCL he suffered in the Cardinals’ 30-17 win over the New England Patriots.

The Cardinals are 7-7 and almost are in a situation where they must win their final three games to perhaps win the NFC West. That becomes much more difficult without Johnson, who has played very well at left tackle this season.

While rookie Christian Jones is listed as the backup left tackle on the depth chart, veteran Kelvin Beachum most assuredly would be the guy to start there. Beachum started nine games at right tackle this season while starting right tackle Jonah Williams was on injured reserve and played well.

The Cardinals and Panthers kick off Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. The Cardinals will release their final injury report of the week on Friday.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Cardinals T Paris Johnson Jr. already giving back to Phoenix community

Johnson participated in a water drive along with Tillman Scholars from the Pat Tillman Foundation and Coca Cola.

Shortly after returning recently from a trip to Europe, Arizona Cardinals left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. participated in a water drive along with Tillman Scholars from the Pat Tillman Foundation and Coca Cola a few days before the Fourth of July holiday.

The second annual water drive helped the residents of UMOM New Day Centers in Phoenix and distributed about 10,000 bottles of Dasani water donated by Coca Cola. There were also interactive games for children and families.

UMOM provides shelter, housing and services for the homeless in which nearly 700 individuals (155 families and 130 single women) benefit. The organization also has over 550 units of affordable housing in the Phoenix area.

While still in high school, Johnson formed the Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation, which supports veterans and disadvantaged youth.

Asked about the water drive during a recent interview on NFL Network, Johnson said, “When I first got to Arizona, something that I wanted to do was give back to the community, being able to serve the families and the kids in the community. I wanted to help with something. It’s a small way, but it can go far not only with the water but being able to have some conversations and spend time with the families there. It’s always amazing.”

His foundation has a feed-the-needy drive in November, a holiday toy drive and in December he supported the Tillman Foundation during My Cleats, My Cause.

Noting how important it is to him, Johnson said, “I believe the platform that I have to play in the NFL; I feel ultimately it’s a gift that comes from God so I want to be able to use the platform that I create by being able to make plays on Sundays to use the time I have to give back to the community in the offseason.

“During the season, during those events, there’s a team of people in the foundation that are going to be able to help out those events as I’m keeping the main thing the main thing on the field because that’s what fuels the activity in the offseason and be able to give back that also helps the activities during the season. So I’m thankful to have a team of people that when I’m not available to be there physically myself, it keeps the events going and helps the community out.”

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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Paris Johnson 1 of a few potential breakout O-linemen in 2024

Johnson will have a new role as left tackle and with an upward trajectory in performance in Year 2, he could develop into a very good tackle.

Tackle Paris Johnson Jr. of the Arizona Cardinals has a new role in 2024. After playing every snap at right tackle as a rookie last season, he now takes over left tackle following the release of D.J. Humphries.

According to Pro Football Focus, he is one of five young linemen poised to break out in 2024 in new roles.

Young tackles are also often better as pass blockers than they are as run blockers early in their NFL careers, as counterintuitive as that can be.

Johnson earned a PFF pass-blocking grade of 64.2 as a rookie, almost 10 grading points better than his performance in the run game. He allowed 42 total pressures but produced six PFF game grades of at least 74.8 in pass protection and improved as the season progressed.

If he continues the typical offensive tackle development pathway, Johnson is primed for a big jump in performance in Year 2 and could become one of the better young tackles in the game for the Cardinals.

This is exactly what the Cardinals hope for the 2023 No. 6 overall pick. It is what they need from him — anchor the offensive line.

Johnson’s has been laser-focused in the offseason. He wants to be the best tackle in the league.

A breakout season from Johnson would be timed perfectly.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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Cardinals LT Paris Johnson’s goal is ‘to be the best tackle in the game’

Johnson was on NFL Network and talked about his goals, his offseason and Kyler Murray.

Count Arizona Cardinals left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. as another member of the offense that can’t wait for the 2024 season to begin.

Visiting on the Insiders show this week on NFL Network, Johnson said even on a recent trip with his sister to Paris and Italy, he made sure to find weight rooms and fields to work out in the mornings.

He said, “That was the most important thing. Just got back Saturday and the first thing I did was go to the weight room again. Hit the steel and keep the main thing the main thing.”

Asked what he’s hoping to accomplish in Year 2, Johnson said, “It’s personally being able to fulfill the expectations that I have for myself, expectations that the team has for me. Being here, my goal ultimately is to be the best tackle in the game.”

As for the team, Johnson naturally is ecstatic over the addition of his college teammate from Ohio State, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

“Playing with the guys we have on this team, to add Marv as a weapon, I think is just explosive,” Johnson said. “With the guys we have on our offense, I expect this offense to be one of the tops in the country.”

When asked what he saw from Harrison in offseason workouts and if it’s “as good as it gets,” he said, “It is, it is. Honestly, it’s been that way since college. That’s one of the things I always told everybody about him, even before we picked him, is that he’s been a professional since his freshman year. So having him here; he’s already in the flow and just talking to a lot of the defensive backs, they love going against him.

“Whether it’s a high day or it’s a lower day, a walkthrough day, just what he expects from himself is exceptional. So I’m super-excited to have him on the field. It makes it even more fun to hold your block because you already know what kind of guys you have out there on the edge.”

Recalling when Harrison arrived at Ohio State, Johnson said there was no entitlement or bragging about his Pro Football Hall of Fame father, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Sr.

“Day 1, I didn’t really know who he was,” Johnson said. “He didn’t talk about his dad at all and his background. I wasn’t personally familiar with how great his dad was. I learned all of that later. I just saw Marvin as himself, not necessarily what his dad was, but just him for who he was. But, again, he jumps off the screen.”

The offseason has been filled with numerous comments from teammates about Harrison and Johnson accentuated it. He talked about how the Ohio State offensive linemen would watch the skill players in practice and wonder who would be the best when their careers were finished.

Noting that he played with some of the best receivers to come through in the last several years, Johnson said, “It came as no surprise, it was going to be him. The plays he made and doesn’t really try to talk about it. He just smiles and lines back up.”

Finally, asked where the Kyler Murray barometer is as training camp approaches, Johnson said, “He’s in full swing. The type of leadership he’s brought this offseason has been incredible. I know he’s excited to have Marvin and he’s been spending a lot of time with the guys and he’s been spending a lot of time on the field. So I’m super-excited to have him full go.”

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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70 days till the Cardinals’ season opener against the Bills

The Cardinals’ current No. 70, Paris Johnson, has already proven to be an impact player.

With the arrival of today, we have one fewer Sunday without football left on the calendar as we count down the days to the start of the 2024 NFL season.

The Arizona Cardinals will take the field at Highmark Stadium to face the Buffalo Bills on the road in Week 1 now in 70 days, in 10 weeks.

Tackle Paris Johnson is No. 70 for the team and he is an impact player.

Drafted sixth overall in 2023, he played every snap of the season at right tackle. While he was not perfect, he was solid, consistent and improved. He had to block some of the best pass rushers in the NFL as a rookie — Nick Bosa, Micah Parsons, T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett and Haason Reddick.

He now moves to left tackle to protect quarterback Kyler Murray’s blind side in 2024.

There are high hopes for him that he will be a high-level left tackle for the next decade.

He has already proven himself to be capable of being an NFL starter in one year. Hopefully he becomes the team’s best No. 70 ever.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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Marvin Harrison Jr. and Paris Johnson Jr. have top-10 cap charges for Cardinals; D.J. Humphries exits top 51 Sunday

Both Harrison and Johnson move up a spot on Sunday after D.J. Humphries contract comes off the books.

With Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. catapulting to having the team’s ninth-highest salary-cap charge for 2024, he is only slightly higher than tackle Paris Johnson Jr., who was the sixth overall choice in the 2023 draft.

Harrison’s cap figure this year is $6.432 million, while Johnson’s is $6.376 million. During his rookie season, Johnson was at $5.1 million.

Both Harrison and Johnson aren’t far from being higher on the list. As of today (June 1), linebacker Kyzir White is sixth at $6.75 million, tackle Jonah Williams is seventh at $6.61 million and defensive lineman Justin Jones is eighth at $6.555 million.

However, when the clock strikes midnight Saturday, Harrison and Johnson will move up one spot because former Cardinals tackle D.J. Humphries will exit the team’s top 51.

Designated a post-June 1 release in March, Humphries has remained second on the team with a $22.877 million cap charge. As of June 2, his $15.735 million 2024 salary disappears and he will count $6.917 million in dead money this year and in 2025.

That will also increase the Cardinals’ current cap space to $36.358 million, according to overthecap.com. There will be cap room needed for players that end up on injured reserve and on the practice squad, but there will likely be significant funds available at the end of the season to roll over into the 2025 cap.

As of Sunday, the team’s top five cap hits are:

  • Quarterback Kyler Murray, $49.118 million
  • Safety Budda Baker, $19.025 million
  • Safety Jalen Thompson, $12.468 million
  • Running back James Conner, $8.93 million
  • Linebacker Kyzir White, $6.75 million

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

LT Paris Johnson tabbed as breakout candidate in 2024

Johnson is the offensive line candidate most likely to break out in 2024, according to Touchdown Wire.

The Arizona Cardinals expect a step forward from many players entering the 2024 season. it is the only way they can take a step forward as a team.

Every year, unexpected players break out and have big, impactful seasons.

Touchdown Wire’s Jarrett Bailey assembled his all-breakout team for 2024 and it includes one player from the Arizona Cardinals.

That player is left tackle Paris Johnson.

Johnson started coming into his own at the tail end of the 2023 season. He had some inconsistencies in the first half of the year, but closed off the season with three really quality performances, earning a 76.3 pass block grade from PFF.

The Cardinals drafted him to be a big body that will keep Kyler Murray clean, and now he’ll have a full season with the dynamic dual-threat quarterback to show what he is capable of.

Johnson had not played right tackle before his rookie season and did well. He was tested by some of the most elite pass rushers in the league.

Now he slides over to the left side to be the guy on the offensive line. Considering Trent Williams is still playing for the San Francisco 49ers, it will be hard for Johnson to push into Pro Bowl status, but his play will make a difference for the Cardinals.

If anyone is going to break out for the Cardinals in 2024, Johnson is a good and important choice.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

Cardinals don’t trade back in redo of first round of 2023 draft

In a redraft of the 2023 first round, the Cardinals do not trade back and simply select 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson.

Last year, the Arizona Cardinals made waves with many trades during the NFL draft. They moved back from the third overall pick to No. 12 and then moved up to No. 6, selecting tackle Paris Johnson and acquiring multiple draft picks.

Should they have done what they did?

Looking back at the first round of the 2023 draft, Draft Wire’s Curt Popejoy does a redraft.

Rather than trading back and trading up, he has the Cardinals staying at No. 3 and selecting pass rusher Will Anderson, who was drafted by the Houston Texans and ended up being the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The Cardinals originally got offensive tackle Paris Johnson but instead opted for edge defender Will Anderson Jr. who took the league by storm.

Johnson was solid last year as a rookie at right tackle, playing every single snap. He now takes over at left tackle.

Should the Cardinals have just drafted Anderson rather than getting Johnson and using picks they acquired to land cornerback Garrett Williams, defensive lineman Darius Robinson and cornerback Elijah Jones?

If Johnson is a great left tackle and the other players are decent, it might be a wash.

If Anderson is a top pass rusher, it will be a great “what if”.

But the selection of Johnson established the need to protect Kyler Murray and it was somewhat symbolic because Johnson was the player Murray wanted the Cardinals to draft, strengthening his relationship with the new leadership.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

Paris Johnson to play LT, Jonah Williams RT

Head coach Jonathan Gannon announced the position change for Johnson before the start of OTAs.

After the Arizona Cardinals released veteran tackle D.J. Humphries and subsequently signed former Cincinnati Bengals tackle Jonah Williams, the big question was who will play which tackle position.

2023 first-round pick Paris Johnson played every snap as a rookie at right tackle but was left tackle in college. Williams began his career as a left tackle and moved to right tackle last season for the Bengals.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon announced Monday before the first practice of voluntary OTAs (organized team activities) that the decision has been made. Johnson will move to left tackle and Williams will play on the right side.

Earlier in the offseason, Gannon had said that he would have to see how players look in the offseason, also saying that all starting jobs would be known the Friday before the first regular-season game.

Gannon said that Johnson had been practicing at left tackle and Williams at right tackle the past three weeks when they were doing Phase 2 work.

The move makes sense.

Johnson projected to be a very good left tackle. Williams’ analytic performance last season on the right side was the best of his career.

This presumably gives the Cardinals clarity at four starting jobs on the offensive line. With the tackle positions set, Will Hernandez expected again to start at right guard and Hjalte Froholdt at center, the only position really up for grabs is at left guard.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.