Cardinals’ BJ Ojulari done for year with reported torn ACL suffered at training camp

GLENDALE — Arizona Cardinals pass rusher BJ Ojulari tore his ACL on Friday, reported NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed Ojulari was done for the year with a knee injury and that the second-year pro will undergo surgery.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed OLB BJ Ojulari will undergo surgery and miss the year with a season-ending knee injury.

“He’ll come back stronger, ready to go and better than ever next year.”

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— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) August 3, 2024

“I feel bad for him, for the team,” Gannon said. “He did a lot of work this offseason and was going to be a big part of what we do. He’ll come back stronger and ready to go.”

Near the end of Day 8 of Cardinals training camp during 11-on-11 work, Ojulari was seen rushing off the edge before engaging with tackle Jonah Williams and going to the ground awkwardly.

After being looked at by training staff, the second-year pro was helped off the field by two trainers.

Eight days into camp, Ojulari had been a consistent presence on the first-team defense alongside Zaven Collins after putting together a strong offseason and looking noticeably improved.

“BJ has a complete skillset to play within what we do,” defensive coordinator Nick Rallis said ahead of practice on Friday. “Believe it or not, he’s a very good space player and coverage player. … His athleticism takes over but it’s natural to him as well. I love that part of his game and then he’s been setting some really good edges.

“I’m always challenging him to play lower than the opponent and when he does that, I really like what I see in the run and the pass game. He’s doing a good job of being that complete player.”

With Ojulari out for the year, Arizona’s pass-rushing department gets even more thin.

Entering the Red & White practice, Collins and fellow veteran Dennis Gardeck figure to command most of the first-team reps moving forward.

Victor Dimukeje, Jesse Luketa, Cameron Thomas, Tyreke Smith and Xavier Thomas round out the OLBs room.

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