The Arizona Cardinals have placed second-year outside linebacker BJ Ojulari on Injured Reserve following confirmation from coach Jonathan Gannon that Ojulari’s knee injury is season-ending. The decision, announced on Monday, opens two roster spots for potential replacements.
Coach Gannon addressed the impact of Ojulari’s injury on the team, stating, “You don’t have to say much. They are NFL football players. They know it’s kind of the known unknown. They feel bad for their teammate. A lot of guys have been through (that injury). He’ll lean on those guys.”
Gannon acknowledged the realities of professional football, adding, “But it’s a you-know-what part of the business, but we know it happens. They have to pick up their head, the sun’s out now, and we’ve got to go to work.”
The Cardinals held a closed walkthrough on Monday and will return to practice on Tuesday. In Ojulari’s absence during Saturday’s practice, veteran Dennis Gardeck took first-team snaps. Gardeck was also a starter last season when Ojulari was a rookie.
Defensive coordinator Nick Rallis is known for rotating his outside linebackers heavily. Last season’s leader in OLB snaps was Zaven Collins, who did not quite reach 60 percent at the position.
Although the Cardinals did not sign a free agent for the position this offseason, they drafted Xavier Thomas in the fifth round.
