Cardinals' Zaven Collins: Sees numbers dip in 2025
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Collins logged 40 tackles (26 solo), including 1.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown) across 17 regular-season games in 2025.
Collins was coming off a productive 2024 campaign in which he logged a career-high 5.0 sacks across 17 games. He was an every-week starter for Arizona from 2022 to 2024 but served in a rotational role in the team's first seven games of 2025 before starting in nine of the last 10 games, and his tackle and sack numbers were his lowest since his rookie campaign in 2021. Collins enters next season on the final year of a two-year contract extension that he signed with the Cardinals in August 2024.
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Cardinals' Calais Campbell: Plays every game in 18th NFL season
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Campbell registered 43 tackles (23 solo), including 6.5 sacks, and two pass defenses across 17 regular-season games in 2025.
After playing in Miami in 2024, Campbell opted to sign a one-year deal in April with the Cardinals, who drafted him in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He didn't see as much playing time on defense as he had the two years prior but had his moments, including multi-sack performances in Weeks 2 and 9 against the Panthers and Cowboys, respectively. Campbell was mulling retirement during his Dolphins tenure in 2024 before reuniting with Arizona, and while he's played every single regular-season game over the last three years, it's unclear whether the veteran defensive tackle will be back for a 19th NFL campaign.
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Cardinals' Denzel Burke: Productive rookie season
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Burke tallied 49 tackles (34 solo) and 11 pass defenses (three interceptions) across 17 regular-season games in 2025.
Will Johnson and Burke were the two corners that the Cardinals selected in the second and fifth rounds, respectively, of the 2025 NFL Draft. Burke was projected to serve in a rotational role on defense while contributing on special teams but ended up starting in eight games (including six of the final nine games of the season) due to injuries in the secondary, including Sean Murphy-Bunting (knee), Starling Thomas (knee) and Max Melton. Burke's three picks led Arizona and were second-most among NFL rookies behind Xavier Watts (five), and Watts and Burke tied Nick Emmanwori for the most pass defenses among rookies. Burke's performance in 2025 could earn him a more consistent role in the team's defense for his sophomore campaign.
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Cardinals' Dadrion Taylor-Demerson: Picks off two passes in 2025
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Taylor-Demerson compiled 59 tackles and six pass defenses, including two interceptions, over 12 regular-season games in 2025.
Taylor-Demerson sat out Weeks 11-15 due to an ankle injury, but he otherwise served as the Cardinals' third safety behind Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson. A 2024 fourth-round pick, Taylor-Demerson surpassed his rookie tackle tally by 18 and also recorded the first two picks of his career. Considering that Thompson's contract voids on Feb. 15, Taylor-Demerson could be poised for a starting gig in 2026.
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Cardinals' Mack Wilson: Has 60 stops in abbreviated season
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Wilson (ribs) posted 60 tackles, six pass defenses including one interception, and one forced fumble over eight regular-season appearances in 2025.
Wilson played all but two defensive snaps before the Cardinals' Week 8 bye, but a rib injury then sidelined him for the rest of the campaign. That allowed rookie fourth-round pick Cody Simon to step into an every-down role alongside Akeem Davis-Gaither. All three off-ball linebackers are under contract next season, so the defensive scheme under new head coach Mike LaFleur will determine who among them takes on starting roles.
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Cardinals' Cody Simon: Productive rookie season
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Simon notched 76 tackles including 0.5 sacks, two pass defenses and one forced fumble over 16 regular-season contests in 2025.
Prior to the Cardinals' Week 8 bye Simon had logged just three defensive snaps, but after Mack WIlson (ribs) was lost for the season, the rookie fourth-round pick played 100 percent of the snaps seven times over the last nine games. Simon, Wilson and Akeem Davis-Gaither are all under contract in 2026, so it remains to be seen who among them will settle into starting roles at linebacker once new head coach coach Mike LaFleur finds a defensive coordinator.
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Cardinals' Josh Sweat: New career high in sacks
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Sweat recorded 30 tackles including 12.0 sacks, four forced fumbles, two pass defenses and one fumble recovery over 17 regular-season games in 2025.
After totaling 43.0 sacks in 104 regular-season contests to begin his career with the Eagles, Sweat secured a four-year, $76.4 million contract in free agency from the Cardinals last March. The 28-year-old responded with a career-high sack tally, tying for eighth in the NFL with the Texans' Will Anderson and Rams' Byron Young. Sweat should again be Arizona's primary threat off the edge in 2026.
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Cardinals' Jalen Thompson: Records 95 tackles in 2025
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Thompson tallied 95 tackles including 1.0 sack, six pass defenses and one forced fumble over 15 regular-season appearances in 2025.
Missing Weeks 15 and 16 due to a hamstring injury impacted Thompson's bid for his first campaign with 100-plus tackles since 2022. He still ended the year third on the Cardinals in stops behind Budda Baker (120) and Akeem Davis-Gaither (117). Thompson's contract voids on Feb. 15, so he appears set to become an unrestricted free agent and could be on the move if Arizona deems second-year pro Dadrion Taylor-Demerson ready to be a suitable replacement at strong safety.
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Cardinals' Akeem Davis-Gaither: Career-best season in 2025
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Davis-Gaither racked up a career-high 117 tackles in 17 regular-season contests in 2025. He also added one interception among five pass defenses, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Davis-Gatiher was a mainstay at off-ball linebacker for the Cardinals all season while working first with fellow veteran Mack Wilson (ribs) and then rookie fourth-round pick Cody Simon. Davis-Gaither logged career bests in just about every statistical category, but with all three players under contract in 2026 and the team hiring offensive-minded Mike LaFleur as head coach Sunday, it's not yet clear which of them will man starting roles next season.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Another 100-plus tackles in 2025
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Baker accrued 120 tackles including 0.5 sacks, five pass defenses including one interception, and one fumble recovery over 16 regular-season games in 2025.
After posting a career-high 164 tackles in 2024, Baker was a bit more muted in box scores this season, but he still finished with triple-digit stops for the sixth time in his nine-year career and was one of five defensive backs leaguewide to reach 120. He also picked off a pass for the first time since 2022. The 30-year-old has two years remaining on his current contract, so he should remain a top-tier IDP option this coming season.
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Cardinals' Will Johnson: MRI comes back clean
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Johnson's (knee) MRI came back negative Monday, and he's healthy headed into the offseason, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.
Johnson had to leave Sunday's regular-season finale against the Rams with a knee injury, but he's avoided anything notable injury-wise and should have a normal offseason. The second-round rookie appeared in 12 regular-season games for Arizona, making 10 starts, and wrapped up his 2025 campaign with 37 tackles (27 solo), 10 pass breakups and one forced fumble. He should return as a starting cornerback in 2026.
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Cardinals' Will Johnson: Won't return due to knee injury
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Johnson (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Rams, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
With Johnson done for the day, Elijah Jones is in line to see more snaps at outside cornerback opposite Denzel Burke. Johnson did not record a tackle prior to his exit.
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Cardinals' Channing Tindall: Dealing with knee injury
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Tindall (knee) is questionable to return to Sunday's contest against the Rams, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
Tindall sustained the injury in the first quarter, and his status for the rest of the game is now in question. The linebacker operates primarily as a special-teams asset, so his absence doesn't carry any impact on defense for Arizona.
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Cardinals' Josh Sweat: All set for season finale
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Sweat (ankle) is active for Sunday's contest against the Rams.
Sweat was considered questionable to play after missing the team's first two practices of the week before logging a limited session Friday due to ankle and knee injuries, but he's now going to give it a go in Week 18. The defensive end has produced 28 total tackles (19 solo), including 11.0 sacks, while also adding four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and two passes defensed over 16 contests so far in his first campaign with Arizona.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: No go for Week 18
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Melton (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's contest against the Rams.
Melton was a full participant at practice throughout the week as he continues to nurse a heel injury, but he'll now ultimately take a seat in Week 18. In his absence, Jaden Davis is a top candidate to see an increase in workload at cornerback versus Los Angeles.
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Cardinals' Josh Sweat: Questionable for Week 18
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Sweat (ankle) is listed as questionable against the Rams on Sunday, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports.
Sweat missed the first two practices of Week 18 prep due to ankle and knee injuries, but he earned the questionable tag for Sunday's regular-season finale after logging a limited practice Friday. He was able to play through the injuries against the Bengals in Week 17, though he was limited to just 24 defensive snaps. If Sweat doesn't play or operates under a snap count, then Dante Stills and Jordan Burch would be in line for more snaps on the Cardinals' defensive line.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Plans to play in season finale
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Baker (concussion/thumb) was a full practice participant Thursday and said that he'll play Sunday against the Rams after clearing concussion protocol, Zach Gershman of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Baker missed last Sunday's loss to Cincinnati while in concussion protocol, but he said Thursday that he's since passed through the NFL's five-step process and is good to go for Sunday. That should be a big boost to Arizona's defense, which was torched by the combination of Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco for a 121.2 passer rating last weekend. Baker ranks second on the Cardinals with 111 tackles on the campaign (one behind linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither) and has added five defensed passes, including one interception.
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Cardinals' Kitan Crawford: Placed on IR
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The Cardinals placed Crawford (ankle) on injured reserve Thursday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Crawford was already ruled out for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Rams due to an ankle injury, and his placement on IR was a procedural move to open up a spot on the Cardinals' 53-man roster for Austin Keys, who was waived by the Vikings on Wednesday. Crawford -- who the Cardinals selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft -- finished his first NFL regular season with 20 tackles (11 solo) and one pass defense across 15 games (one start) while contributing on both special teams and in the secondary.
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Cardinals' Josh Sweat: DNP to open Week 18 prep
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Sweat (ankle/knee) did not practice Wednesday, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.
Sweat did not practice during Week 17 prep due to ankle and knee injuries but was still cleared to play against the Bengals, when he logged one tackle while playing 24 defensive snaps. He's opened Week 18 prep with a DNP but may need to practice in order to play in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Rams. If Sweat ends up sitting out, Dante Stills and Jordan Burch would be poised to see more snaps at defensive end.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Limited in Wednesday's practice
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Baker (concussion/thumb) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.
Baker was unable to play against the Bengals in Week 17 while in the league's concussion protocol. He's also working through a thumb injury, and his ability to return to practice in a limited capacity indicates that he is progressing in his recovery. Baker would need an independent neurologist to clear him from concussion protocol in order for him to be available for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Rams.
