Arizona Cardinals Wide Receiver Zay Jones Suspended for Five Games

In Arizona, the Arizona Cardinals announced today that wide receiver Zay Jones has been suspended for five games due to a violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. This decision comes after Jones was arrested last November for domestic battery; however, the charges were later dropped in March after authorities reviewed the evidence.

Jones, who signed with the Cardinals in May on a one-year deal worth up to $4.25 million, was expected to compete for the WR2 spot alongside second-year player Michael Wilson as the team prepares for the upcoming NFL season. Weighing in at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Jones has had a productive career, especially in the last two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. During his time there, he recorded 116 catches, accumulated 1,144 yards, and scored seven touchdowns across 25 games, with 22 of those being starts.

Initially drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2017 as the 37th overall pick, Jones played two full seasons with the team before being traded midseason to the then-Oakland Raiders in 2019. He made a mark with the Raiders in the 2020-21 seasons, playing in a total of 33 games and making 11 starts.

With Jones now sidelined for the first five games, the Cardinals will look to other players lower on the depth chart to step up and fill the void. Meanwhile, the team will be keeping a close eye on the injury status of rookie defensive lineman Darius Robinson, as head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed that he has a calf injury, which could impact the team’s prospects this season.

As the regular season approaches, the Cardinals will need to quickly adapt to these changes in their roster and seek to maintain their competitive edge.