TEMPE — The Arizona Cardinals went into free agency looking to beef up their interior defensive line, and six weeks into 2024, the team has to regroup.
Veteran free agent signees and starters Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols are out for the year, and a struggling defense will have to rely on its depth up front to improve and bring consistency.
“Unfortunately some guys that we added, you know, durability had been one of their greatest hallmarks, and it just hasn’t panned out that way,” general manager Monti Ossenfort told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke.
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“We got to figure out a way to get through it and find a way to make do with what we have. We went in with a plan, and we think we’re going to have certain things at certain positions, and when that doesn’t come to fruition, it’s frustrating. But at the same time, nobody’s feeling sorry for us. … It’s going to create opportunities for other guys.”
Jones went out with a triceps injury in Week 3, and head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed this week Nichols would not return due to stinger issues.
That leaves a depth chart reliant on L.J. Collier, Roy Lopez, Dante Stills, Khyiris Tonga and Naquan Jones.
“Just got to be able to adapt,” Gannon said of the injuries piling up on the defensive line. “Whether it be one position group or spread out through the whole team, it’s the known unknown of the NFL. You just got to adapt and adjust and make sure we’re putting our guys in positions to make plays.”
First-round 2024 draft pick Darius Robinson is expected to provide a boost when healthy, although a calf injury has held him out of at least the first six games. He has been out of practice this week so far. Jones and Nichols, meanwhile, are on three-year deals and will return to the fold in 2025.
Lopez, an Arizona Wildcat whom the Cardinals gave a chance to last year after he was waived by Houston, has started all six games, playing primarily in the A Gap as a nose tackle, according to Pro Football Focus. He has been impactful with a pass defensed leading to an interception, a forced fumble and three tackles for loss.
He and Collier have played the bulk of Arizona’s defensive line snaps.
Roy Lopez getting the big mitt up! https://t.co/I2s6HySut1 pic.twitter.com/GEC38loeVG
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) October 8, 2024
Second-year pro Stills stands to earn more opportunities as he did last year. The Cardinals have moved him around multiple defensive line spots. Stills has a 9.6% run stop rate — which measures the percentage of someone’s run defense snaps when responsible for a stop — ranking 20th in the NFL.
Gannon is looking for more consistency from the duo, a common theme for the entire team, but was complimentary of their play thus far.
“I think Roy is doing an excellent job for us, and he’s really developed some of his pass rush, especially,” Gannon said.
“It’s hard to rush when you’re playing run first and then get to convert to rush. I think he’s doing a good job with that. Dante, we’re mixing him in kind of all across the lines. He’s playing a lot of different things for us. Just keep looking for consistency from him. When he does it right, he’s really, really good.”
The group that will be tested this week.
The Cardinals take on the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football, who lean on their run game with a strong offensive line. Running back J.K. Dobbins is averaging 5.4 yards per carry with seven rushes going for 10 or more yards between the tackles.
The Cardinals have struggled to produce a consistent pass rush this season and the Chargers employ two first-round picks at the tackle spots.
Gap integrity up front to avoid explosives on the ground forces passing downs, and that will be key to taking away some of Los Angeles’ versatility.