GLENDALE — When it comes to the Arizona Cardinals’ cornerbacks room, there was a clear pecking order three days into training camp.
– Starling Thomas V – Max Melton – Will Johnson – Everybody else
The trio had clearly separated itself from the pack, rotating in with the first-team defense more times than not.
But after Thomas’ torn ACL suffered Friday — the second season-ending injury in the room — the rotation no longer exists for 2025, leaving the rest of the group to pick up the slack due to the injury.
“It’s heartbreaking. … That’s our brother. That’s our leader.”
Cardinals CB Max Melton on losing Starling Thomas V to a torn ACL. pic.twitter.com/EY8ohYxanB
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) July 27, 2025
“It’s heartbreaking to be honest. We know it’s part of the game of football but that’s our brother. That was our leader in the room. You know (Sean Murphy-Bunting) went down so he was like the next leader up. He been here the longest. He knows the playbook the best out of the whole room. And uh it’s just hard seeing guys like that go down.
“Me and Star pretty much knew we had a pretty good chance of being out there (starting), but it’s pretty much like a next guy up mentality. We know we pretty much have a three-corner rotation and so we just looking for that third corner now next guy up so uh it is a big loss. You know he brings to the table so there’s really next guy up like I said.”
What’s next for Cardinals CB rotation post-Starling Thomas injury?
Following Thomas’ injury, two constants remain on the outside in Melton and Johnon, a pair of second-round picks from Arizona’s past two draft classes.
That couldn’t have been any clearer Sunday, with the pair working almost exclusively with the first-team defense.
How the CB depth has been tested, the second-round addition of Johnson looks even more impactful. It also helps that he’s living up to expectations.
“He’s snapping.”
Cardinals CB Will Johnson is everything they said he was going to be in the eyes of CB Max Melton. pic.twitter.com/QWam3zldtp
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) July 27, 2025
“He’s snapping. Will’s everything everybody thinks he would be. He’s lengthy, he’s fast, quick and he had a really good press man rep last hot day. You could tell he seems like he’s been here for a while now.
“He’s adapting pretty fast. He’s got all the physical attributes. He’s getting used to the playbook rather fast. He’s going to have a great year.”
Melton’s rookie experience should only help him take that next step, too.
Taking on more responsibility with Thomas sidelined only represents more opportunity for the second-year pro to leave his mark, Melton said Sunday.
“How much better can you get every day?”
With Cardinals CB Starling Thomas V done for the year, it’s on Will Johnson, Max Melton and the rest of the CBs room to step up in his absence. pic.twitter.com/I2hVGnSAKP
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) July 27, 2025
“Max was obviously drafted where he was drafted and played a lot of ball for us last year. He has a really high ceiling. And then Will, drafted where he was drafted. He’s done some good things in spring and now it’s just going to be like all our guys, how much better can you get every day?”
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For their respective trajectories, it’s all about staying healthy through camp and the preseason.
But given Arizona’s three-cornerback rotation that’s been on display even more this camp, there are plenty of snaps up for grabs.
As for the candidates vying for the role, Arizona has options, beginning with a former rookie starter and cornerback Kei’Trel Clark.
Clark went from near-every week starter through the first six weeks of the 2023 season as a rookie to a near-nonfactor the rest of the way. He made just two more starts the rest of way (due to injuries in the room). Outside of that stretch, Clark failed to record a defensive snap the rest of the year.
In Year 2, he found his way back on defense, though sparingly, across 15 games last year. He registered one start and didn’t see more than 44 available defensive snaps in a single game.
But after stacking days early on at camp, is this the year Clark regains a more consistent role defensively?
Cardinals CB Kei’Trel Clark, who head coach Jonathan Gannon has spoken highly of this training camp, reels in a couple one-handed “INTs” on Day 4. pic.twitter.com/jk9UMRmJvz
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) July 27, 2025
Two other names to watch are second-year pro Elijah Jones and rookie Denzel Burke, two Cardinals with not a lot of experience for different reasons.
Jones was sidelined throughout all of last year with a heel issue that could never quite check off all the boxes for a return.
Effectively redshirting as a pro, Jones was forced to pick things up from the sideline and in the meeting rooms.
“I just want to showcase what I can do,” Jones told the Cardinals Corner podcast in March. “I’m happy to be pushed by other corners in my class. I feel like there’s been a lot of success at my position around the league and in our building.
“I just want to be able to show that I’m here as well. Last year was a big learning experience for me.”
Now healthy, Jones is seeing a lot of second-team reps. He was one of the first subs in during base red zone work on Sunday.
Getting the 6-foot-1 Jones up to speed for a bounce-back Year 2 would at the very least give the secondary some added length. Only Johnson (6-foot-2) stands taller than Jones in the CBs room.
“He’s more along with the playbook than he was last year. Just like all of our guys,” Gannon said Sunday. “He’s very smart. I think he feels more comfortable with the techniques that he’s playing.
With him, I tell him to cut it loose. We have to see him make some plays here. He had a good week. I’m looking forward to his trajectory here as we get going.”
Much like Jones, Burke was also in for second-team base defense work. The rookie has plenty of football experience but must show consistency through camp and into the preseason to earn a larger role.
The added wrinkle on the outside
A lot has been made about which Cardinals cornerbacks will command the outside.
Melton, Johnson, Clark, Jones and Burke represent the top outside options in nickel packages.
But in base? Don’t be surprised to see do-it-all Garrett Williams line up on the boundary, much like what was on display Sunday.
During red zone work, it was Williams and Melton leading the charge out of the base formation. A combination that includes Williams with either Melton or Johnson could very well be in play this season.
Williams has already added a ton on his plate since coming to town as a third-round pick in 2023. What’s a little more?
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