Rookie cornerback Will Johnson is set to start for the Arizona Cardinals as they open their regular season against the New Orleans Saints. Johnson, who was drafted in the second round after being projected by many as a first-round pick, will be joining veteran safety Budda Baker in team meetings throughout the season.
Baker recounted how he invited Johnson to sit with him: “I usually sit by myself, but I might look at someone and say, ‘Come here and sit,'” Baker said. “‘I saw Will sitting there, I said, ‘Come sit here.'” Last year, Baker did something similar with Starling Thomas V when he became a starter.
Johnson played in all three preseason games under head coach Jonathan Gannon’s new plan to give rookies more game experience. Despite some penalties during those games, Johnson described it as a learning process: “There is always room to grow,” he said. “Look at the good, look at the bad, and figure out what you’re going to do off of that.”
Teammates have noted Johnson’s understanding of the playbook. Second-year cornerback Max Melton said Johnson was ahead of where he himself was as a rookie. Cornerback Garrett Williams added: “When you practice the right way, which I feel Will has been doing, it makes it easier to go into the game. Practicing that way and being around guys who have been in the league, it’s more ‘OK, let me do what I’ve been doing.'”
Defensive coordinator Nick Rallis believes Johnson’s approach will help his transition to regular-season play. “I’m excited to go make some plays that matter,” Johnson said.
The Cardinals last played in New Orleans during Kyler Murray’s rookie season in 2019 and have lost their last three trips there by an average margin of 25 points per game. This season opener comes as the Saints are rebuilding while Arizona expects improvement from its own rebuild.
Kyler Murray is expected to return without issues related to his previous ACL injury. Quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork shared: “I remember in Denver, he kind of made a juke move the same to the one he made to tear his ACL and he came back smiling, ‘Hey, that felt really good,'” Woolfork said. “That was one moment. But he’s playing more freely.”
The Cardinals were among the top teams for explosive run plays last season but struggled with explosive pass plays—a point head coach Jonathan Gannon addressed: “Whatever you need to do to win the game,” Gannon said. “But I do think we need to increase our explosives in the pass game. Score more points.”
Arizona set a franchise record with 5.29 yards per rushing attempt last season and had only one more accepted penalty than the league’s least-penalized team (the Rams). The running back situation remains fluid between Trey Benson and James Conner.
At age 32, defensive coordinator Nick Rallis discussed coaching veteran Calais Campbell (39), saying: “He’s like a father figure to me.” Campbell will continue contributing on special teams; special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers commented: “Calais is a problem for other teams when he’s on the field for the block team,” Rodgers said. “We played him last year (when Campbell was in Miami) and the first guy I was talking about was him.”
Campbell will become only the third position player in franchise history aged 39 or older to play for Arizona; others include Jim Hart (quarterback) and Jim Thorpe.
Left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. summarized expectations ahead of Sunday’s game: “All the reps we’ve put in … now it’s time to put that on show. Can’t do too much talking. Now it’s time to put the foot on the ball.”
