Cardinals sign former Ohio State OL Matthew Jones, Jackson Barton to start vs. Rams
The Cardinals signed former Ohio State guard Matthew Jones to the practice squad, aiding the position group's depth after ravaging injuries.
Emeka Egbuka #2 and Matthew Jones #55 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after Egbuka scored a touchdown in the second quarter against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Ohio Stadium on September 16, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
The Cardinals signed former Ohio State guard Matthew Jones to the practice squad on Thursday, supplementing Arizona’s offensive line depth after ravaging injuries over the past couple weeks.
Both starting tackles Paris Johnson Jr. and Jonah Williams landed on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday due to knee injuries. Arizona already lost right guard Will Hernandez to a season-ending knee injury in October.
Jones joins Arizona after having gone undrafted this past April and spending time on the Miami Dolphins until the roster cutdown to 53 players in August.
The 6-foot-4 rookie played alongside Johnson and Cardinals rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. at Ohio State, where he put together a decorated career with two All-Big Ten second team selections.
He spent five seasons (2019-23) at Ohio State, playing 53 games, including a College Football Playoff national championship game.
NFL Network Draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Jones would make an average backup or special teamer in the NFL.
Densely built with thick arms and a relatively broad frame. Jones is athletic in pass protection and does a nice job of mirroring the rush to protect both A- and B-gaps against counter moves and twists. Despite his build, he doesn’t play with the core strength needed for consistent contact balance and can be neutralized and discarded by strong two-gappers in the run game. He comes off the ball and snaps into contact but needs to play with better inside hands to improve his power down the middle. Jones has talent as a move blocker and pass protector and is set up to become a backup guard, with a chance to move up the ladder.
Jackson Barton to start at right tackle for Cardinals
Kelvin Beachum started at left tackle for Johnson last week in Carolina, and Jackson Barton will receive the nod at right tackle in Los Angeles on Saturday, head coach Jonathan Gannon announced on Thursday.
Arizona promoted Barton from the practice squad on Tuesday. He has one career start back in Week 3 against the Detroit Lions. Rookie Christian Jones is next on the depth chart at both tackle spots.
Cardinals LT Paris Johnson Jr.'s season is over, and Jonathan Gannon gave his evaluation of the second-year player's development. pic.twitter.com/mIGUaB7C6l
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) December 26, 2024
Cardinals starting left guard Evan Brown was limited in practice on Wednesday with a neck issue.
The Cardinals play the Rams at 6:10 p.m MST on Saturday at SoFi Stadium on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.
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