ClutchPoints
The Arizona Cardinals entered Week 18 with nothing to play for, but they still suffered a significant loss. Star rookie cornerback Will Johnson, who has been one of the team’s biggest breakout stars in 2025, went down with a knee injury early in the game.
Johnson left the game after sustaining the injury in the first half and has since been ruled out, according to Cardinals reporter Darren Urban. As such, his strong rookie season has come to an unexpected end.
Injuries have been a thorn in Johnson’s side all season. The rookie has been a staple of the team’s weekly injury report and missed five games, which was the only blemish on a strong rookie year.
Johnson’s inaugural season ends with 37 tackles, 10 pass breakups and one forced fumble. His 63.1 player grade on Pro Football Focus ranks just outside of the top 50 at cornerback.
Johnson’s career did not start the way he wanted it to, with his falling in the 2025 NFL Draft. He was projected to be a first-round pick after an All-American career at Michigan, but fell to the second round as scouts became concerned with his injury history.
Regardless, Johnson played the way everyone expected him to once he took the field. He was immediately asked to be the team’s top cornerback with veteran Sean Murphy-Bunting out for the year and held up in that role all season.
Johnson will return as one of the top young cornerbacks in the league once the Cardinals return in 2026. He and Murphy-Bunting will form a promising tandem, with Max Melton and Starling Thomas V rotating in.
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