The Arizona Cardinals have been a trendy pick to be a playoff team this season, but their path to making a run will be much more difficult following the loss of an All-Pro edge rusher.
Following Arizona’s 30-10 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday, Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters that Jones is likely done for the season due to a biceps injury.
Kliff Kingsbury said Chandler Jones is likely out for the season with a biceps injury.
— Bob McManaman (@azbobbymac) October 11, 2020
The assumption is that it’s a torn biceps for Jones, who was clearly in plenty of pain after suffering the injury in the first half.
Here’s FOX showing Chandler Jones after he got hurt and testing in on sideline. pic.twitter.com/PEz2Dmg2SO
— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) October 11, 2020
Jones had 19 sacks (second in the NFL to only Shaquil Barrett’s 19.5) and eight forced fumbles (tied for first in the NFL) in a remarkable 2019 season.
The 30-year-old was named first-team All-Pro for his efforts in 2019, as well as 2017. He averaged 14.5 sacks over 2015-19. This season, he had one sack and one fumble recovery.
Elite pass-rushers are immensely valuable, and especially when you have to face Russell Wilson twice as the Cardinals do. So, this is a massive loss for Arizona, and will require other players in their front seven to step up. It will also help if Kyler Murray can continue to improve and the offense can score a lot of points.
Arizona takes a 3-2 record into Week 6, which has them in the thick of the playoff race, but also behind the Seattle Seahawks (4-0) and Los Angeles Rams (4-1) in the NFC West. With how good the Seahawks look, to go with the loss of Jones, the Wild Card is looking like the Cardinals’ only realistic path to the postseason.