Latest news with #BJOjulari
USA Today
20 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Arizona Cardinals OLB BJ Ojulari 'getting better every day', nearing return
Arizona Cardinals OLB BJ Ojulari 'getting better every day', nearing return Ojulari still isn't practicing coming off the ACL tear, but he is rearing to go soon. In minicamp for the Arizona Cardinals, one of the players who has not gotten on the field yet is third-year outside linebacker BJ Ojulari. He is still coming back from a torn ACL he suffered last year in training camp, causing him to miss the entire season. He is getting close to his return. "He's doing well," head coach Jonathan Gannon said before Wednesday's practice. "One day at a time, getting better every day. He's looking forward to getting back on the grass." The outside linebacker room is much more competitive this year with the signing of Josh Sweat, the return of Baron Browning and the addition of Jordan Burch in the third round of the draft. But Gannon knows what Ojulari can do, and he is still engaged mentally. "He's smart, so I'm not really worried about him schematically doing the right thing. He's played ball for us. "So with him, it'll just be pour into his health bucket and make sure that he feels really good when he's back out there, that he can do what he can do. He's one that's constantly in my ear, getting ready to go. So he's excited." With training camp beginning at the end of July, he should be ready to go by then. A healthy Ojulari doing what the Cardinals believe he is capable of (double-digit sacks) will be a huge boost to the pass rusher, even with the new additions. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
12-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Arizona Cardinals had major defensive improvements in 2024 despite challenges
Arizona Cardinals had major defensive improvements in 2024 despite challenges The Cardinals have bolstered their defense in 2025. But they had a surprising improvement in 2024 with less talent The Arizona Cardinals have made a concerted effort this offseason to improve their defense, adding starting talent and depth on the defensive line, the defensive edge and linebacker in free agency and then addressing every defensive position in the NFL draft. But that roster improvement comes after they made marked improvements from 2023 to 2024 defensively. BetMGM's Nick Hennion noted that the Cardinals "moved from 32nd in defensive DVOA in 2023 to 14th in 2024" and that the improvement was impressive for a number of reasons. They played the third-hardest schedule of opposing offenses in 2024 after playing the hardest schedule in 2023. They lost 72.9 adjusted games to injury on defense, the fourth-highest total in the league. They lost BJ Ojulari, Dennis Gardeck, Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols to season-ending injuries. They were 15th in scoring defense last season but 21st in yards allowed. They were 14th in passing defense and 20th in run defense. However, they had an interesting dichotomy of metrics. They were sixth in the league in the percentage of opposing offensive drives ending in scores, but they were dead last in plays allowed per drive and second-to-last in time allowed per drive. If they improved that much with a roster that is markedly worse than the current one, imagine what this year's defense might be when they have an easier schedule. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
09-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Arizona Cardinals free agency preview: Outside linebacker
Arizona Cardinals free agency preview: Outside linebacker With free agency approaching, a look at the Cardinals' offseason needs at outside linebacker. NFL free agency begins next week on Monday with the opening of the contact and negotiation window with players whose contracts expire on March 12 and become free agents. The Arizona Cardinals will be active, although it is uncertain how aggressive they will be or how much money they will spend. But before that happens, we will take a look at each position group, see who is on the roster, who will be free agents and what their need at the position is for the offseason. Let's look at the situation on the defensive edge at outside linebacker. Outside linebackers under contract Zaven Collins: Signed through 2026, $6.0 million cap hit in 2025 BJ Ojulari: Signed through 2026, $2.3 million cap hit in 2025 Xavier Thomas: Signed through 2027, $1.1 million cap hit in 2025 Benton Whitley: Signed through 2025, $1.1 million cap hit Elliott Brown: Signed through 2027, $840,000 cap hit in 2025 Pending free agents Dennis Gardeck Baron Browning Jesse Luketa (restricted free agent) Victor Dimukeje Julian Okwara Offseason need This is a position of concern. Collins led the team with only five sacks. They believe in Ojulari's ability to be an impact pass rusher, but he will be coming off a torn ACL. They traded for Browning and want to re-sign him, so we shall see what happens. Could they be big players in free agency and use some of their extensive cap space to sign an impact player with proven production? Notable free agent edge defenders Josh Sweat Haason Reddick Joey Bosa Khalil Mack Harold Landry Preston Smith Chase Young Charles Omenihu Azeez Ojulari Malcolm Koonce Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
01-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 Arizona Cardinals offseason roster profile: OLB BJ Ojulari
2025 Arizona Cardinals offseason roster profile: OLB BJ Ojulari A look at OLB BJ Ojulari, what he did in 2024, his contract status and his outlook on the team for 2025. The Arizona Cardinals are in offseason mode and we are days away from free agency. We have been taking a look at each player on the roster or signed to a reserve deal and break down where they stand with the team. We will look at their 2024 season, their contract status and what their status is for the coming offseason and 2025 season. Next up is outside linebacker BJ Ojulari. 2024 BJ Ojulari stats, season It didn't take long for Ojulari's 2024 season to be over. He suffered a torn ACL during the first week of training camp and was placed on injured reserve Aug. 5. 2025 contract status Ojulari is entering the third year of his four-year rookie contract after being selected in the second round of the 2023 draft. His base salary for 2025 is $1.53 million and the salary-cap charge is $2.34 million. Outlook for 2025 As the talk grows about the Cardinals adding an edge rusher in either free agency or the draft, Ojulari's status complicates the decision making. Can he be counted on to be healthy and play at a high level after missing the entire 2024 season? Head coach Jonathan Gannon is confident, but understands the unknown. At the Combine, he said of Ojulari, 'He fits into that process. Obviously has to get healthy first, but I really liked where his game was trending coming out of 2023. I liked where he was at in camp, and then obviously he had the injury. He looks good in there, he's in there every day (working out). I definitely have ... I wouldn't say hopes, I have a high expectation for BJ to come in here, get back when he's healthy when it's right for him, and come back and help us win games.' Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
17-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cardinals named top fit for intriguing pass-rushing prospect
The Arizona Cardinals have a big need at outside linebacker to improve their pass rush. Zaven Collins led the team in 2024 with only five sacks. Almost the entire group will be free agents next month. So it is natural that pass rushers will be an area fans will focus on for the NFL draft. One pass-rushing prospect is super intriguing — Marshall's Mike Green. The nation's leader with 17 sacks in 2024, he also had a great week at the Senior Bowl and many believe he will be drafted in the first round in April. Which teams are the best fit for him? According to The Draft Network's Justin Melo, the Cardinals are one of three great fits. The Arizona Cardinals have conducted a multi-year-long search for a difference-making pass rusher. They drafted BJ Ojulari two years ago, who suffered a summer season-ending injury. They also selected Darius Robinson in the first round of 2024, but he spent the majority of his rookie campaign sidelined. Head coach Jonathan Gannon is a defensive-minded leader. General manager Monti Ossenfort must continue drafting pass rushers until he gets it right. No Cardinals pass rusher had more than five sacks this past season. A ton of their veteran edge defenders are scheduled for free agency, including Dennis Gardeck, Baron Browning, Julian Okwara, and LJ Collier. Green should appear on their shortlist of potential targets at No. 16 overall. Green is 6-foot-3 and 251 pounds. Comparatively, BJ Ojulari is 6-foot-2 and 256 pounds, so the concerns about length and size are not something the Cardinals view as critical. Early in the draft season, it feels like Green would be a great fit. We will see if the Cardinals pull the trigger in April if he is available. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
