ARIZONA CARDINALS
Cardinals place DL Jordan Phillips on IR, activate Pugh off COVID-19 list
Sep 2, 2021, 1:43 PM
Defensive lineman Jordan Phillips goes through drills during the Cardinals' first day of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)
(Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)
The Arizona Cardinals placed defensive lineman Jordan Phillips on the injured reserve with an undisclosed injury Thursday afternoon.
Additionally, the team activated offensive lineman Justin Pugh off the COVID-19 list.
Phillips will now miss three weeks, with the earliest he can return being Sept. 23, days before Arizona takes on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3.
The defensive lineman missed most of training camp this offseason with an undisclosed injury and did not see any preseason action.
He was then placed on the COVID-19 list on Aug. 19, but made a return to the practice field this past week.
Jordan Phillips was back at practice Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/IsV2KNtJKm
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) August 31, 2021
Phillips signed a three-year deal worth a pricey $30 million with the Cardinals last offseason. His first year in the desert was a rocky one as he dealt with a hamstring issue that put him on the IR twice. In just nine games played, the lineman recorded two sacks, 11 tackles and three QB hits.
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With Phillips out at least the first two weeks of the schedule, backup and second-year lineman Leki Fotu will likely see an increase in snaps.
In 11 games last season, Fotu made 11 tackles and one sack.
This offseason, Fotu was among a handful of young defensive linemen who took two days off after the conclusion of last season before getting back to work.
“[Strength and conditioning coach] Buddy [Morris] did a great job with those guys throughout the offseason and it’s paid off,” head coach Kliff Kingsbury said Wednesday. “I think [they’ll] take big steps this year.”
Pugh returns to the practice field after being placed under COVID-19 protocols on Aug. 18. The offensive lineman is slated to start at left guard.
