PHX Reporter

Long before Paris Johnson Jr. became a prominent tackle, he played quarterback and strong safety as a child. Reflecting on his early years, Johnson described himself as "Travis Hunter-esque, before that was popular," highlighting his versatility as a two-way player.

Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 313 pounds today, Johnson has come a long way from those early days. He now plays left tackle for the Cardinals, filling a role previously held by D.J. Humphries for nearly ten years. "I ended up getting into the league," Johnson remarked with satisfaction.

While offensive linemen can earn substantial salaries, the childhood dream often leans towards being a quarterback or wide receiver. Johnson tried his hand at both but eventually gravitated towards playing on the offensive line in high school after an influential meeting with his coach and a University of Florida recruiter.

Initially unaware of the technical demands of offensive line play, Johnson soon learned its intricacies and progressed to become Ohio State's main backup lineman as a freshman, starting right guard as a sophomore, and left tackle as a junior.

His transition to left tackle with the Cardinals this year was expected. "He's growing into his own, becoming a leader each and every day," said quarterback Kyler Murray. Cardinals offensive line coach Klayton Adams emphasized the importance of having standout tackles on both sides due to elite pass rushers' versatility.

Despite recognizing top tackles like Trent Williams and Lane Johnson, Paris Johnson Jr. believes that "left tackle still holds prestige." Pro Football Focus rates him highly this season with an 83.5 grade, noting his low pressure allowed rate.

Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon praised Johnson's pride and ambition: "He wants to be one of the best out there." For Johnson, playing offensive line is fulfilling enough that he doesn't miss his quarterback days.

In other team news, the Cardinals added veteran kicker Chad Ryland to their practice squad following Matt Prater's knee injury. They also released tackle Austen Pleasants from the practice squad and placed defensive lineman Angelo Blackson on practice squad Injured Reserve.