The Arizona Cardinals will have defensive end BJ Ojulari back at practice today for the first time in over a year. Ojulari tore his ACL during training camp in 2024 and has been out with the injury since. However, with Week 9 on the horizon, the Cardinals will get their former second-round pick back.
The Cardinals opened up Ojulari’s 21-day practice window on Wednesday, which led to the assumption he’d be back at practice this week. On Thursday morning, Gannon made it official.
What Does BJ Ojulari Bring to the Cardinals?
The Cardinals drafted Ojulari in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of LSU. The LSU product was a monster in college, collecting 129 tackles, 25 TFLs, and 16.5 sacks over his three years. He also forced two fumbles, recovered two fumbles, and defended two passes.
Ojulari set career-highs in his sophomore season with 11.5 TFLs and seven sacks, but took a slight step back in his junior year, which allowed him to drop to the second round in the draft.
The Cardinals drafted the LSU product with the 41st overall pick, and he went on to have a powerful rookie season. Ojulari had 40 tackles, four sacks, five TFL, and six quarterback hits. The Cardinals’ rookie didn’t start any games in 2023, but he played in all 17 games.
Ojulari’s 2024 season was supposed to be a breakout year for him, but his season ended before it even got started with his torn ACL in training camp. That forced the young pass rusher to miss the entire season and most of the first half of the 2025 season.
However, Gannon announced on Thursday morning that Ojulari will be back at practice, and that’s welcoming news for a Cardinals’ pass rush that could use some help.
“BJ will be out there today, and so will everybody else,” Gannon said.
Arizona ranks 28th in the NFL in sack percentage, according to PFSN’s Defense Impact. The Cardinals are sacking quarterbacks just 4.3% of the time, which is making it harder for the secondary to contain opposing offenses.
Edge rusher Josh Sweat leads the team with seven TFLs and five sacks, and defensive tackle Calais Campbell is right behind him with five TFLs and three sacks.
The additions of Ojulari and rookie Walter Nolen III, who’s expected to return soon, will be a big boost of youth talent and energy to the Cardinals’ front four.
The Cardinals have had the lead in the fourth quarter in six of their seven games, and fresh legs in crunch time could be the difference in the second half of the season.
Another key injury update on the Cardinals’ defense is cornerback Garrett Williams. Williams has returned to practice this week, alongside Ojulari.
The Cardinals’ cornerback has been out since Week 2 with a knee injury, but had 11 tackles and a pass defended through two games in 2025.
