Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
3d ago

Cardinals Cornerback Starling Thomas to Miss Entire 2025 Season After ACL Tear

His season-ending injury forces Arizona to rely on rookie backups to shore up a depleted secondary.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 5: Cornerback Starling Thomas V #24 of the Arizona Cardinals walks off with safety Jalen Thompson #34 after an altercation during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium on January 5, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona.
Image
Image
Image

Overview

  • Arizona confirmed that Thomas tore his ACL during Friday practice, ruling him out for all of the 2025 NFL season.
  • The 25-year-old signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2023 before the Cardinals claimed him off waivers and he started 22 games over two seasons.
  • Doctors expect Thomas to require 9 to 12 months of rehabilitation, which will overlap the entirety of the upcoming campaign.
  • Arizona’s depth chart shifts focus to second-round picks Will Johnson and Max Melton to fill the void at right cornerback.
  • The Cardinals secondary ranked near the bottom in pass defense last season, making Thomas’s absence a significant setback for a unit already in need of playmakers.