Cardinals rookie guard Chase Bisontis to miss most, possibly all, of his first NFL season after torn MCL

Arizona’s rookie offensive guard Chase Bisontis is facing a significant recovery timeline after an MRI revealed a torn MCL, according to NFL Media as reported by Yahoo Sports. The Cardinals selected Bisontis in the second round, and the injury is expected to keep him out for most of, or possibly the entirety of, his first NFL season.

An MCL tear in the knee is typically a surgery-and-rehab problem, not a short-term setback. In most cases, teams plan for a return only after strength, range of motion, and stability are restored enough to handle the rigors of NFL blocking and contact, particularly for an interior lineman who must absorb force and change angles repeatedly.

For the Cardinals, the immediate impact is roster and development related. Offensive guards operate in high-leverage situations, from run fits at the point of attack to pass protection assignments that require footwork, hand usage, and sustained balance. Losing a second-round draft pick before he can build in-season reps forces the team to rely more heavily on other linemen during training camp and the early weeks of the regular season.

The deeper issue is continuity. Young linemen typically progress by earning time in walkthroughs, special groupings, and ultimately live offensive snaps. When a rookie is sidelined before that developmental runway begins, it can slow how quickly new schemes are absorbed and how smoothly the line’s communication and protections gel.

Bisontis’ timetable also carries a wider personal storyline. Because the injury was identified through MRI and is described as requiring surgery, the recovery path is likely to involve a long, structured offseason plan rather than a quick return. That matters both for his first-year evaluation and for his ability to enter the next season with a full offseason of conditioning and technique work.

The Cardinals will also be managing expectations around a player who was brought in for immediate physical and schematic needs, not just long-term potential. Even when an injured player’s rehab timeline is eventually successful, teams often prioritize protecting returning players from setbacks by limiting snaps at first and emphasizing safe integration into contact work.

What to watch next is the team’s medical updates and the rehab milestones that typically follow an MCL surgery. Bisontis’ progress will be measured not only by whether he returns, but also by how his knee responds under the specific demands of interior blocking. In the meantime, Arizona’s offseason plan for the offensive line will increasingly determine who steps into the most important early-season roles.