The Arizona Cardinals' 2025 season is in jeopardy after star CB Starling Thomas suffered a season-ending ACL tear in July. How will the team recover?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
Just days into training camp, the optimism surrounding the 2025 Arizona Cardinals has been dealt a crushing blow. The team confirmed Sunday that starting cornerback Starling Thomas suffered a torn ACL during Friday's practice and will miss the entire upcoming season. The news, confirmed by an MRI, rips a hole in the heart of the defense and fundamentally changes the outlook for a secondary that was supposed to be a team strength.
Thomas started 22 games over the past two seasons and was Arizona’s highest-graded outside corner in 2024.
The worst fears were realized Sunday morning. After going down with a non-contact injury in practice Friday, an MRI confirmed a full ACL tear for Starling Thomas. The loss is immense. Over the past two seasons, Thomas had emerged as a legitimate lockdown corner, starting 22 games and establishing himself as a cornerstone of Jonathan Gannon's defense. His absence leaves a void that can't be easily filled, both in terms of on-field production and veteran leadership in the defensive backs' room.
The Cardinals' depth chart at cornerback has been shredded. With Sean Murphy-Bunting already lost for the year, the team will now turn to a pair of second-round draft picks to start on the outside: 2025 selection Will Johnson and 2024 pick Max Melton. While both players have high ceilings, being thrown into starting roles this early is a massive test. The pressure also mounts on Garrett Williams, who now becomes the unquestioned veteran leader of the corner group from his nickel spot. A position that looked deep and talented a week ago is now one of the team's biggest question marks.
General Manager Monti Ossenfort didn't wait to make a move. In a direct response to the injury, the Cardinals officially placed Thomas on Injured Reserve and signed UFL cornerback Steven Gilmore on Sunday. Gilmore, brother of veteran corner Stephon Gilmore, was a standout in the UFL and will now get a shot to compete for a roster spot. While it's an intriguing depth signing, it underscores the sudden and desperate need for bodies in a depleted secondary.
In a bit of whiplash-inducing news on an otherwise bleak day, the Cardinals got some positive buzz regarding their new uniforms. The team is one of eight in the league set to debut Nike's 'Rivalry' uniforms in 2025. Set to be worn for the first time against the Seattle Seahawks on September 25, the new threads are already getting rave reviews from the players. Budda Baker took to social media to call them '10/10,' while Kyler Murray teased fans, saying, 'Wait until you see them. They're beautiful.' It's a small piece of good news, but a welcome one for a fanbase reeling from the Thomas injury.
One weekend has completely altered the trajectory of the Cardinals' season. The loss of Starling Thomas is a gut punch, and the team's success now hinges on the rapid development of its young corners. Can the rookies rise to the occasion? Will Monti Ossenfort make another move to bring in a veteran? The resilience of this team will be tested immediately. Camp is no longer just about preparation; it's about survival.
