The Arizona Cardinals face a significant setback as Sean Murphy-Bunting, who was signed in 2024 to add experience at cornerback, will miss the entire season after suffering a knee injury. Head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed on Wednesday that Murphy-Bunting underwent surgery during the offseason, preventing him from playing this year. The team now must depend heavily on its younger cornerbacks to fill the void left by his absence.
Impact of Murphy-Bunting’s Injury on Cardinals’ Secondary
Murphy-Bunting was placed on the Non-Football Injury list, revealing the injury occurred away from the team‘s facility. Last season marked his first with the Cardinals after signing a three-year free-agent deal, during which he appeared in 15 games. He recorded three interceptions, five passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and three tackles for loss. His season ended early following an altercation after an interception in the finale against the 49ers, which led to his ejection along with wide receiver Jajuan Jennings.
Relying on Youth at Cornerback
Arizona drafted several promising cornerbacks in recent years, including second-round selections Max Melton and Will Johnson, third-round picks Garrett Williams and Elijah Jones, as well as Starling Thomas V, a two-year starter acquired off waivers. Despite this depth, the young players will face a steep learning curve without Murphy-Bunting’s veteran presence. Coach Gannon emphasized the importance of experience gained through challenging situations and game repetitions.
It happened in the offseason, he had to have surgery to get it fixed, so he won’t be able to play this year,
Gannon said.
It’s a tough break for him, a tough break for us, but we’ll move forward and so will he.
—Jonathan Gannon, Head Coach
For the young guys, there will be some learning on the job,
Gannon added.
You need reps to learn, I truly believe that. And really, bad reps to really learn. So that’s an ongoing process for all our guys, whether you play 18 years like Calais (Campbell) to a rookie who has never played in the NFL before.
—Jonathan Gannon, Head Coach
I feel really good about that (cornerback) room. I feel really good about the guys that are coming back and feel good about the guys we added.
—Jonathan Gannon, Head Coach
Veteran Safeties Provide Stability to the Secondary
While the cornerback corps adjusts, the Cardinals benefit from experienced safeties Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson anchoring the secondary. Baker highlighted the role of communication on the field to guide the younger corners during games.
If we’re on a game day right now I can easily tell our young corners what to do because that’s our job,
Baker stated.
They have to understand what they have to do and understand the game plan, but also communicating with us all the time. You’ll never not know what to do because our communication is so important.
—Budda Baker, Safety
Team Preparing for the Season Through OTAs and Minicamp
The Cardinals began their organized team activities (OTAs) on Wednesday, kicking off one of six voluntary sessions aimed at developing cohesion and skill. Although teams are allowed up to 10 OTAs, Gannon opted for fewer this year. Following OTAs, a mandatory three-day minicamp is scheduled to start on June 10, giving the coaching staff a chance to evaluate how well the younger cornerbacks are adapting in Murphy-Bunting’s absence.
The loss of Sean Murphy-Bunting represents a considerable challenge for the Cardinals’ defense, placing increased pressure on a young and largely unproven cornerback group. How effectively these players develop during OTAs and minicamp will be critical for Arizona’s defensive success in the coming season.