Cardinals held a bonus Monday practice after the mini-bye, with five players absent: Benson, Wilson, Campbell, Robinson and Fehoko. Benson is day-to-day; Wilson left with an ankle issue but returned; Robinson chest; Fehoko in concussion protocol; Campbell possibly rested.

Johnson and Jones worked in the open portion, and Nichols had his PUP window opened in anticipation of activation from last year’s neck injury.

Arizona Cardinals special teams ace Joey Blount will miss the rest of the season with a neck injury, forcing a regroup of kick- and punt-cover roles as the team prepares for the Saints. Head coach Jonathan Gannon underscored that the loss won’t be easy and that multiple players will absorb Blount’s duties as practice reps proceed.

Rookie Kitan Crawford led the unit in snaps and is among those expected to share the load with Denzel Burke and Greg Dortch stepping into expanded duties. The change heightens late-season fantasy stakes around return roles and short-area coverage—watch Dortch for any added opportunity on returns and Burke for potential depth gains as the Cardinals shuffle roles this week.

Arizona’s 2024 free-agent splash largely missed, with only Mack Wilson and Evan Brown delivering solid season-long value. Calais Campbell, Dalvin Tomlinson and Josh Sweat carried big-name expectations but battled injuries and underperformance. Bilal Nichols, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Zay Jones faced hurdles, while DeeJay Dallas exited after preseason. The Cardinals’ 2025 outlook hinges on health, depth and better returns from this year’s additions.

Two breakout contributors stand out: Wilson anchored the middle and Brown logged season-long consistency at left guard, earning new deals. The club now pivots toward stability and health, banking on a deeper roster and clearer roles as it rebuilds around a healthier core and smarter FA picks.