Cardinals LT D.J. Humphries out for rest of season with back injury
Nov 28, 2022, 1:49 PM
Offensive tackle D.J. Humphries #74 of the Arizona Cardinals is introduced during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The Chiefs defeated the Cardinals 44-21. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Arizona Cardinals left tackle D.J. Humphries will not play for the final five games of the season due to a back injury suffered before Week 10.
Head coach Kliff Kingsbury announced the move Monday, a day after Arizona fell to 4-8 on the year.
Humphries was placed on injured reserve Saturday, meaning he would miss at least all the games until the second-to-last game of 2022.
The Cardinals’ defeat Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers leaves them with a slim-to-none chance of making the postseason.
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The 28-year-old Humphries made his first Pro Bowl in 2021 and signed a contract extension before this season that keeps him on the team through 2025.
The three-year extension was worth a total of $66.8 million, with $34 million guaranteed and $21 million going into the tackle’s pocket in Year 1, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Humphries was the Cardinals’ first-round draft pick in 2015, at 24th overall.
After sitting out his entire rookie season, Humphries has been a mainstay at left tackle, starting all 83 games he’s played for Arizona.
He struggled with serious injures early in his career, combining to play 14 games in the 2017-18 seasons before suiting up for every game in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
In 2022, the Cardinals have started 2020 third-round pick Josh Jones at left tackle in the four games Humphries has not played.
“Really been impressed by him,” Kingsbury told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke on Monday. “He’s really stepped up when asked to go in there at left tackle … I think it’s been good for his confidence and it’s exciting for us moving forward.”
