After finding out they were losing left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. for the year earlier this week, the Cardinals now see starting right guard Isaiah Adams join him on injured reserve. Arizona reportedly doesn’t believe Adams’ ankle injury will keep him out as long as Johnson, but while he recovers third-year guard Jon Gaines II will start in his place.
Adams, a 2024 third-round pick, started in 16 of 32 games during his first two seasons. After he logged 11 starts last year, Adams was expected to compete with second-round rookie Chase Bisontis for the right guard spot this summer. However, Adams ended up winning the job by default after Bisontis suffered a season-ending MCL tear in the middle of August.
Adams missed the Cardinals’ season-opening win over the Chargers with a knee injury, leaving Gaines to fill in, but he returned in Week 2. In two-plus games before he went down with the ankle injury, Adams ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 52nd-best guard out of 73 qualifiers. He played 28 snaps in a Week 4 loss to the Giants and was the Cardinals’ lowest-graded offensive player, per PFF.
In July, Adams was arrested on four firearms-related charges. The 26-year-old Canadian was able to participate in training camp, though, and he has denied any wrongdoing. His rookie contract runs through 2027, and the coming offseason will mark the first point at which an extension can be worked out in this case.
It would certainly come as a surprise if a new contract were to be finalized any time soon, however. Adams could be replaced in the starting lineup once Bisontis is healthy next season, something which would obviously lower his value. For the meantime, Adams will turn his attention to recovery and reclaiming first-team duties once healthy. Two of the Cardinals’ IR activations have already been accounted for, and bringing Adams back into the fold will use up another.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
