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Cardinals offensive line proves that it needs more time to grow

Originally posted on Burn City Sports
By Tanner Tortorella | Last updated Oct 14, 2025 10:18 PM ET

GLENDALE – Sunday was the first game for the Arizona Cardinals to have its projected offensive line starters all healthy and start. Guard Will Hernandez made his return from ACL tear last season, with the hope that his arrival would fix much of the offensive line’s trouble in 2025. However, Week 6 for the offensive line might’ve been one of its worst in the young season.

NFL.Com’s Kevin Patra on Cardinals offensive line struggles:

“Jacoby Brissett was under pressure on 20 of 44 pass attempts (48.9 percent) on Sunday, according to Next Gen Stats, and he completed 6 of those 20 throws. It’s incredible that Brissett threw for 320 yards and took only two sacks. The run blocking also continues to be a trouble spot, with Arizona running backs averaging 3.3 YPC on Sunday.”

The only slight improvement for the offensive line was a decrease in penalties, as they only had two flags against them (false start and illegal man down field). Besides that aspect, the offensive line looked like a unit that hasn’t play together all season, which in fairness it hasn’t.

Hernandez has been out of the lineup, while Paris Johnson Jr. has battled through some nagging injuries to start the year. Arizona hasn’t had its projected starting offensive line since Week 5 of the 2024 season. The unit will likely need more time to return to being one of the most consistent units in the league.

Under offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, the Cardinals are a run-heavy team. The offensive line hasn’t lived up to that identity, struggling to establish themselves in the trenches. The challenge to return to glory doesn’t get easier, as in Week 7 Arizona plays the best run defense in the NFL against the Green Bay Packers.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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