Cardinals place rookie OG Chase Bisontis on season-ending IR

August 16, 2026 - 03:39

The Arizona Cardinals have officially shut down rookie offensive guard Chase Bisontis for the remainder of the season. The team placed the third-round pick on injured reserve on Tuesday, ending his debut campaign before it ever really got going.

Bisontis, who was selected out of Texas A&M with the 81st overall pick in this year's draft, had been dealing with a nagging lower-body injury throughout training camp. The coaching staff had hoped he could work through it, but the decision was made to give him the full year to recover rather than rush him back for a lost cause.

The move is a tough break for a Cardinals offensive line that was already thin on depth. Arizona had been rotating several young players along the interior during preseason games, and Bisontis was expected to compete for a starting guard spot right away. Instead, he will spend the season on IR, which means he cannot practice or play at all in 2025.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon did not offer many specifics on the injury, only saying that the team felt it was in the player's best interest to take the long view. Bisontis will now focus on rehab and strength work, with an eye toward returning for the 2026 offseason program.

For now, the Cardinals will move forward with a mix of veterans and unproven backups at guard. The loss of Bisontis stings, but the front office believes his long-term upside remains intact. The rookie will be eligible to return to practice once the season ends, though he will not see game action this year.