The Arizona Cardinals will be without the services of two veterans for the 2026 season. The team announced that Joey Blount, alongside tight end Kenny Yeboah, has been placed on injured reserve on August 8.
Blount, 27, suffered a nasty collision with running back Bam Knight in practice on July 31. Arizona Cardinals on SI’s Donnie Druin provided video of the play. Blount had to be assisted off the field by trainers after the play with a neck injury.
Yeboah suffered a hamstring injury in the Cardinals‘ Hall of Fame game loss to the Carolina Panthers, per team reporter Zachary Gershman. The fifth-year tight end caught Carson Beck’s first pass of the game. He finished the game with two receptions for 10 yards.
What the Joey Blount and Kenny Yeboah Moves Mean for the Cardinals?
GettyGLENDALE, ARIZONA – JULY 28: Joey Blount #32 of the Arizona Cardinals participates in a team practice ahead of the NFL season at State Farm Stadium on July 28, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Joey Blount and Kenny Yeboah’s placement on injured reserve has serious roster ramifications for the Cardinals. Since they were both placed on IR before final cutdowns, they are not eligible for activation at any point during the 2026 season, barring an injury settlement.
For Blount, it’s the second consecutive season ended by a neck injury. The standout special teamer and backup safety signed a two-year deal ahead of the 2025 season. However, he will play a total of just one game over the length of that contract. That game was the Cardinals’ Week 1 win over the Panthers.
His injury plays a big role in the Cardinals’ special teams’ units. Blount is a “Core Four” member, meaning he serves on the kickoff coverage, kickoff return, punt coverage, and punt return units. The team will need to find a way to replace a player who wears so many hats.
Yeboah signed with the Cardinals in the offseason to compete for a spot on the roster as a backup. Arizona already features Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins, and Tip Reimann at the tight end position in their offense. Had the 27-year-old played well in the preseason, he would have been a candidate for an active roster spot or the practice squad.
For the second straight season, Kenny Yeboah has been sidelined with an injury. He spent most of the 2025 season on injured reserve with the Detroit Lions before the team released him with an injury settlement in November.
Cardinals Lose Two Veterans For Season Following Hall of Fame Game