PUP list explainer: What’s the concern level for Josh Sweat, Paris Johnson Jr.?

GLENDALE — Arizona Cardinals training camp wasn’t without its surprises on Thursday, with both Josh Sweat and Paris Johnson Jr. landing on the active/physically unable to perform list.

Starting camp on any sort of injury list isn’t how anyone wants to start one of the most important stretches of the football calendar.

But just how concerning are their spots on the PUP list?

What to make of Cardinals’ Paris Johnson Jr. and Josh Sweat PUP list designation

Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur didn’t seem all that worried about Johnson and Sweat starting camp on the PUP list, calling their knee issues more maintenance than anything else.

“No problems with Paris,” LaFleur said. “And then same thing with Josh. Seeing him yesterday, he’s fired up to be here. He was in great spirits. He looks really good.”

 

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They aren’t expected to see any practice time before Monday’s off day but could make returns soon after.

That wouldn’t have been the case had they landed on injured reserve to start camp like rookie Kaleb Proctor (torn meniscus).

Being placed on IR before initial 53-man roster cuts means Proctor’s season is over before it begins. A tough blow for a player who could have made his way into the defensive line rotational as a rookie.

That’s far from the case for Sweat and Johnson. While neither can practice while on the PUP list, the pair (plus cornerback Garrett Williams and Tip Reiman) count toward Arizona’s 90-man roster.

They can be activated at any time, but once they come off the list, there is no going back on it.

Given how early it is in camp and the expectation that both could be back by next week, they should be back practicing before 53-man roster cuts.

If that’s not the case and neither return before then, they can be transferred to the reserve/PUP list to start the regular season. That move means they would have to miss at least four games.

Arizona’s most recent example of that was defensive lineman Walter Nolen III, who avoided the PUP list this time around despite being a nonparticipant throughout organized team activities and minicamp.

But as a rookie, Nolen started camp on the active/PUP list before being moved to the reserve list to start the season. He missed the first seven games of the year before making his debut in Dallas.

From the sounds of it, Johnson nor Sweat are close to that level of injured.

Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur takes Paris Johnson Jr. and Josh Sweat PUP list stints ⬇️ https://t.co/rZZcya0obF pic.twitter.com/smHpmZKtkf

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) July 24, 2026

For now, the concern levels are low. They are expected to miss the first block of camp — three practices, a jog-though and an off day — before being reassessed.

No big deal there, but if another full block is missed with no clear timeline(s) given, the arrow is going to start trending upward.

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