Cardinals place CB Garrett Williams, DL L.J. Collier on injured reserve

TEMPE —  Arizona Cardinals cornerback Garrett Williams and defensive lineman L.J. Collier are heading to injured reserve with their respective knee injuries suffered in Arizona’s Week 2 win over the Carolina Panthers, head coach Jonathan Gannon said.

He added there is “potential for both to come back this year.”

Cornerbacks Max Melton and Will Johnson are day-to-day, with Melton expected to participate in some fashion during practice on Wednesday. Johnson will not practice.

“Kind of see how the week goes for those two,” Gannon said of Melton and Johnson.

With the cornerback room reduced, the Cardinals elevated Darren Hall to the active roster from the practice squad. Arizona also released linebacker Elliott Brown from the practice squad to make room for the signing of both cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe and defensive lineman Zach Carter after they worked out for the team on Tuesday.

JG on the injuries ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/6kdBSX9Wz5

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) September 17, 2025

Arizona Cardinals cornerback injuries piled up in Week 2

Melton exited in the first quarter of the 27-22 victory after making a diving tackle on Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.

The cornerback needed help off the field by trainers before being loaded onto a cart and taken into the locker room with a towel over his head.

Then came Williams’ injury in the fourth quarter.

Colliding with safety Budda Baker in the end zone, Williams needed help off the field with his knee issue. Trainers helped him into the locker room.

Neither returned.

Rookie cornerback Will Johnson also went down with a groin injury late and did not return.

For the final drive of the afternoon, none of Arizona’s starting options at cornerback were on the field.

It’s the latest rash of injuries for the room after losing Sean Murphy-Bunting and Starling Thomas V — a pair of 2024 starters — to season-ending knee injuries before the season even began.

If Williams or Melton are down for an extended period of time, the attention turns to in-house options Denzel Burke and Kei’Trel Clark to pick up the slack.

In Sunday’s win, both stepped in on short notice and helped keep the Panthers’ comeback bid from coming to fruition.

Burke, a rookie, finished the game with three passes defensed as he was tested early by quarterback Bryce Young. Clark, meanwhile, had a crucial pass defensed late in the fourth quarter.

Elijah Jones, who has been healthy inactive for the past two weeks, and practice squad cornerbacks Darren Hall and Chigozie Anusiem could also be options already in Arizona.

There’s also the chance general manager Monti Ossenfort kicks the tires on an outside addition or two to help out the depth at the position.

The team worked out free agent corners Boye-Doe, Andrew Booth and Shemar Bartholomew on Tuesday.

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