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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.
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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.