GLENDALE – NFL Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Arizona Cardinals have placed cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting on reserve/non-football injury list, ending his 2025 season. It is unclear what Murphy Bunting injury is at this time, but Arizona is losing one of its top cornerbacks from last year after just one season of him signing his new three-year 25.5 million contract.
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Dec 8, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (23) against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
What Murphy-Bunting’s absence means for Cardinals:
Last year was Murphy-Bunting’s first year with the franchise after spending his first five years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Tennessee Titans. The 27-year-old started 15 games for the Cardinals, recording three interceptions, five pass deflections and 52 tackles. He was a much needed veteran, alongside safety Budda Baker, in the secondary, but now won’t be on the field next season.
Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (23) reacts in the first half against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
General manager Monti Ossenfort luckily got the steal of last month’s draft in Michigan Wolverines cornerback Will Johnson. The All-American was a projected top-10 pick in the draft, but injury concerns had him fall all the way to Arizona 47th overall. In 2023, Johnson helped lead Michigan to one of the best defenses in the country and eventually a national championship, where he earned defensive MVP.
Cornerback Will Johnson during the Cardinals rookie minicamp at the Arizona Cardinals training center in Tempe on May 9,2025. Syndication: Arizona Republic
Injuries derailed his senior season with the Wolverines, but during his introductory press conference with the Cardinals, Johnson denied any concerns regarding any nagging injuries and proclaimed he’s good to go. Johnson was touted as the best defensive back in the draft and a future No. one cornerback on a team. Arizona will need him to do that sooner than expected with Murphy-Bunting out.
The usual suspects will need to step up in the secondary, most notably Baker, who’s coming off his seventh-straight Pro-Bowl season. Returning defensive backs Startling Thomas V and Garrett Williams will be entering their third season with the Cardinals and have the opportunity to make a jump with the increase snaps.
Dec 3, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Garrett Williams (21) takes the field before playing the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
This entered this offseason with a lot of questions surrounding the front seven and answered that by spending big money on Pro-Bowlers like edge Josh Sweat and defensive tackle Calais Campbell. However, with the news on Murphy-Bunting, the secondary now becomes a much more glaring issue to see how the team responds heading into 2025.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
