When the Arizona Cardinals line up at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, neither offense will have the left tackle it started the season with.
The NFL suspended Los Angeles Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson for two games on Tuesday after he struck Buffalo linebacker Bradley Chubb in the face as players shook hands and exchanged jerseys after the Rams' 37-34 overtime loss on Monday night. The league cited its rule against acts contrary to the principles of sportsmanship, NFL.com reported.
Jackson appealed, and the suspension was reduced to one game, ArizonaSports.com reported, but that still keeps him out against Arizona.
The Cardinals have been managing the same problem from the other side for two weeks. Paris Johnson Jr. tore his left biceps late in the loss to the New York Giants and will miss the rest of the season, the team said. Rookie seventh-round pick Jayden Williams took over the position, with Josh Fryar behind him.
It is the third straight year Johnson's season has ended early because of injury.
What Los Angeles loses
Jackson, 28, has started all five Rams games this season and 56 of his 62 appearances since Los Angeles signed him out of Iowa as an undrafted free agent in 2021, according to NFL.com. ArizonaSports.com cited Pro Football Focus figures that rank him 10th among NFL tackles, with one sack allowed in 375 snaps.
Nine-year veteran David Quessenberry is next on the Rams' unofficial depth chart, ArizonaSports.com reported, and NFL.com said he would start at left tackle in Jackson's absence.
ArizonaSports.com's Dylan Kane called the ruling a potentially huge break for an Arizona defense that has given up more points than any team in the league, including a season-high 45 against Detroit. Kane noted that the Cardinals are still tied for 12th in sacks.
Arizona took down Jared Goff three times on Detroit's first three possessions Sunday, the team's website reported, before the Lions scored on seven straight drives. Linebacker Baron Browning recorded one sack and forced two fumbles.
Arizona's protection limits
The offensive line has also narrowed what Arizona asks of its rookie running back. Asked Monday why Jeremiyah Love has run so few pass routes, coach Mike LaFleur pointed to protection.
"I wasn't too confident in terms of getting into some of those 'scat' protections and stuff like that and five-man protections," LaFleur said, according to the team's website. "We wanted to have that extra body in there."
