Cardinals CB Will Johnson confident about health headed into Year 2
The former second-rounder out of Michigan missed five games last season due to various ailments, including back and groin issues.
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After an injury-riddled rookie campaign last season, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Will Johnson said he made a concerted effort to make sure he would be ready health-wise for the 2026 season.
The former second-rounder told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Wednesday he mainly stayed around the Cardinals’ facilities this offseason and worked with head strength and conditioning coach Kyle Sammons in an effort to take better care of his body.
“I feel like I’m in a great spot just being strong, fast and being in a spot where I can handle everything that comes with being on the field,” Johnson said. “My main goal is just being healthy and be ready for this long, great season we are about to have.”
Johnson, a second-round pick out of Michigan, appeared frequently on the Cardinals’ injury report in 2025 and missed five games because of various ailments, including back and groin issues.
Johnson was limited to six games during his final season at Michigan in 2024 because of turf toe, which he said was another issue he dealt with at the start of last season.
“We played a game (last season) where I was out there more than I expected to be, and they (the team) said that was just from being out there more than I should’ve been,” Johnson said.
In 12 games, Johnson registered 37 tackles with 10 passes defensed and a forced fumble.
Johnson added he feels confident going into the season and likes how the Cardinals’ secondary looks, with Budda Baker, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson and Andrew Wingard leading the safety room while he, Denzel Burke and Max Melton anchor the cornerback room.
“It’s good to see we are all able to play at a high level no matter if it’s the ones or twos, whoever is rotating at nickel or the new guys on the team,” Johnson said. “That just helps us never get comfortable and go out and compete every day and know you’ve got to do the right things or somebody is right there to take your spot.”
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Comments
3 Comments
A healthy Johnsonn is an elite pro bowl caliber CB. He was elite as a rookie till he injured his hip posting a 90+ pff grade in his debut, it was scary how good he was out of the box considering how difficult the transition is for a CB1 from college to the NFL. I’ve never seen a rookie corner who read coverages and played the game at the level he did, it was seriously impressive the way he’d seen things before they happened as a rookie.
Now healthy I’d bet money as long as he stays that way he’s a Pro Bowler, same with DT Walter Nolen. With Will Johnson, Burke, Garrett Williams in the slot , Melton, a healthy Sterling Adams, Elijah Jones, at SAF Budda Baker, Taylor-Demerson n Andrew Wingard they’re going to have an exceptional top ten caliber pass defense so long as these guys stay healthy. They have a lot of talent at corner in their secondary.
Im a big fan of Will Johnson. I just wish the Cardinals would have taken a flyer on Jermod McCoy who had an injury history that scared several teams off. The Raiders took a flyer on him at the start of the 4th Round instead of reaching for Carson Beck. With McCoy at the other CB from Will Johnson, Arizona would have been set. Today, the Raiders released another blurb on McCoy who continues to be one of the Defensive Stars of Pre-season practices. They've already said he is the starter.
Seems like a great kid with a bright future ahead of him. Hope he locks down the #1 Corner this year and blankets everyone he plays.