There was a scary moment at Cardinals practice today. According to Darren Urban of the team’s website, linebacker J.J. Russell was involved in a collision before being placed on a backboard and carted off the field. The player has since been released from the hospital and re-joined the team after tests were negative, per the organization.
The Cardinals passed along an update earlier tonight that the player was alert and had movement in all his extremities following the collision.
“JJ Russell is being evaluated for a head [and] neck injury suffered in this afternoon’s practice,” the team said. “He was alert on the field [and] had movement in all his extremities. He has been taken to a local hospital for further testing [and] continued evaluation.”
Per Urban, Russell was injured when he collided with safety Kitan Crawford while trying to break up a pass attempt. Players gathered around the linebacker before he was carted off the field.
Russell joined the Cardinals this offseason after spending the first three seasons of his career with the Buccaneers. The former UDFA out of Memphis got into 30 games during his time in Tampa Bay, including a 2024 campaign where he appeared in a career-high 16 games. He finished last season with 33 tackles, with more than half of his snaps coming on special teams.
Russell will likely be competing for a similar ST role in Arizona, although he could also push for reps at weakside linebacker. Akeem Davis-Gaither was added in free agency to lead that position grouping, with Owen Pappoe and Vi Jones providing the rest of the depth at that position.