GLENDALE – After the news of Paris Johnson Jr.’s season-ending injury, the Arizona Cardinals are signing Jedrick Wills Jr. off the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad per ESPN’s Mike Garafolo, giving the Cards a former first-round pick with 57 career starts at offensive tackle. The Cards didn’t have the luxury of searching for a perfect replacement after Paris Johnson Jr.’s season-ending biceps injury. They needed experience, and Wills gives them exactly that, even if there are obvious questions attached. That experience becomes especially important as rookie Jayden Williams prepares to step into Johnson’s starting role.
Browns left tackle Wills Jr., left, works on pass blocking techniques on Monday, August 2, 2021 in Berea, Ohio, at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. [Phil Masturzo/ Beacon Journal]
The #AZCardinals are signing OT Jedrick Wills off the #Bills practice squad, sources tell me and @RapSheet. The 10th overall pick in 2020 heads to Arizona after the team lost LT Paris Johnson Jr. for the season.
@SalSports reported Wills was signing elsewhere. AZ it is. https://t.co/SvoKGl9tDg
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 6, 2026
But the arrival of Wills Jr. shouldn’t be viewed as a simple insurance policy. The 27-year-old hasn’t appeared in a regular-season game since 2024 after knee problems interrupted his final seasons with Cleveland. His challenge now is proving that the time away helped him physically without creating too much rust. That’s where this move becomes strategically important for Arizona. Johnson Jr. had established himself as one of the Cardinals’ most important young offensive linemen. Losing him changes the margin for error up front, particularly for an offense that cannot afford consistent pressure disrupting its quarterback and limiting its ability to develop downfield plays.
Jan 8, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Injured Cleveland Browns tackle Wills Jr. (71) is helped off the field in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
Wills Jr. needs to make sure Johnson Jr.’s absence doesn’t become the defining weakness of Arizona’s offense. For Cardinals fans, the signing represents both hope and uncertainty. He has the pedigree and experience to provide valuable depth, but his recent inactivity makes his immediate impact difficult to predict. The bigger question is whether Arizona can turn a former first-round talent’s reset into a meaningful midseason opportunity. That could ultimately determine how much Johnson Jr.’s injury hurts the Cardinals.
Sep 25, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona offensive lineman Johnson Jr. (70) against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
