Arizona Cardinals second-round offensive guard Chase Bisontis will miss significant time, and potentially his entire rookie season, after suffering a torn MCL during a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The injury requires surgery next week, halting a promising competition for the starting right guard spot.
Preseason Injury Clouds Rookie Campaign for Chase Bisontis
The Arizona Cardinals face a major offensive hurdle after second-round draft pick Chase Bisontis went down with a serious knee injury during the team’s preseason matchup. The incident occurred in the first half of a 27-14 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on a Thursday night.
Bisontis was in visible pain on the field before trainers helped him away. He was evaluated inside the blue medical tent before being carted off to the training room. Head coach Mike LaFleur told reporters immediately after the game that the situation was not good
and that medical testing was necessary to determine the extent of the damage.
Subsequent medical evaluations brought both relief and heavy consequence. According to NFL Network reporting, Bisontis avoided a complete ACL tear, which would have definitively ended his availability. However, an MRI confirmed a torn MCL that requires a surgical procedure scheduled for the following week.
The Right Guard Competition and Immediate Roster Fallout
Before the injury, Bisontis was actively competing with Isaiah Adams for the starting right guard job. The rookie had built strong momentum following an impressive showing in the Hall of Fame game and was working to stack solid performances during camp.
With Bisontis sidelined for the foreseeable future, Adams essentially secures the starting role by default. The depth behind him now shifts toward other reserves on the roster. Hayden Conner and Jon Gaines II step up as the next options to provide interior line depth while Bisontis recovers.
The timeline for the rookie’s return leaves the Cardinals with a strategic roster decision. If team leadership believes Bisontis can return at any point during the upcoming regular season, they may hold off on placing him on injured reserve until after the final preseason roster cuts. Designating him for return after initial roster trimming keeps a window open for a late-season comeback, whereas an IR placement before roster cuts would end his campaign immediately.
A Troubling Preseason Trend for Arizona Rookies
Bisontis joins a frustrating franchise history of rookie offensive linemen suffering significant injuries during the preseason. The organization has endured similar preseason setbacks over recent years.
Last year, sixth-round pick Hayden Conner missed the majority of the regular season due to a preseason injury. During the 2024 campaign, fifth-round selection Christian Jones suffered a similar fate, missing most of the regular season. Looking back to 2023, fourth-round pick Jon Gaines lost his entire rookie year to a preseason injury.
Beyond the offensive line, the Cardinals also lost defensive lineman Kaleb Proctor to a torn meniscus during organized team activities, compounding the team’s early-season health challenges.
Surgical Outlook and Recovery Expectations
The upcoming surgery will focus exclusively on repairing the torn ligament in Bisontis’ left knee. While the procedure jeopardizes his availability for his inaugural NFL campaign, medical projections indicate that a full recovery is expected once the rehabilitation process concludes.
