Cardinals training camp was halted on July 25 after LB J.J. Russell suffered a scary neck injury. Read about the team's reaction and impact on their 2025 hopes.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The optimism of Arizona Cardinals training camp was pierced by a frightening moment on Friday, as practice came to an abrupt and somber halt. Linebacker J.J. Russell was carted off the field with a head and neck injury following a violent collision during a 7-on-7 drill, casting a pall over a team with high aspirations for the 2025 season.
Everyone seems to forget that with eight wins last year, they were only two games out of first place in the division.
The incident occurred during a routine drill when Russell collided with rookie safety Kitan Crawford. Medical staff immediately attended to Russell, who was ultimately stabilized and transported to a local hospital for evaluation. Head Coach Jonathan Gannon gathered the visibly shaken team at midfield, ending the day's work early. While the team later confirmed Russell was alert and had movement in all his extremities, the sight of a player being carted off is a gut punch. 'It sucks,' said veteran leader Calais Campbell. 'Hopefully everything's okay... I was happy to see him moving around and stuff, so it sucks, but one of those things that happens in football.'
Russell's injury adds to a growing list of concerns for a defensive unit that was the focal point of the team's offseason overhaul. General Manager Monti Ossenfort invested heavily in the defensive line and secondary, but key pieces are already on the mend. First-round defensive tackle Walter Nolen III remains sidelined with a calf injury, and second-round cornerback Will Johnson is also out with an unspecified medical issue. For a team banking on its defense to end a three-year playoff drought, these early camp injuries are a significant test of depth.
Despite the setbacks, the pressure is on for Coach Gannon and GM Ossenfort in their third year. After an 8-win campaign in 2024, the expectation is to take the next step and become a legitimate playoff contender. As Howard Balzer of Cardswire noted, the team was closer than many think last season. The goal is to translate that potential into 10 or 11 wins, a mark likely needed to compete for a division title that has eluded the franchise for nine years. The offense, led by the durable James Conner, looks to be a steadying force, but the season's success will undoubtedly hinge on the defense's ability to overcome these early challenges and live up to its billing.
Today was a stark reminder of the brutal realities of the NFL. While the team holds its breath for positive news on J.J. Russell, the mission doesn't change. The focus will shift to rallying together and ensuring the next man is ready. The first real test of this revamped roster's resilience and talent is just around the corner, with a preseason showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs on August 9th. All eyes will be on how this team responds to adversity.
