HOUSTON -- With Paris Johnson Jr. sidelined with a knee injury, the Cardinals have activated second-year tackle Christian Jones from Injured Reserve, giving them another piece on their injury-ravaged offensive line.

To make room, the Cardinals placed defensive lineman Bilal Nichols on IR with a knee injury, officially ending a second straight frustrating season for the veteran.

Jones, a 2024 fifth-round draft pick, has been plagued by preseason injuries in both his NFL seasons. As a rookie, he spent most of the season on IR with an ankle injury. This year, it was a knee injury that landed him on the sideline. With Johnson hurting his knee last week against the Rams, Kelvin Beachum is expected to start at right tackle and rookie Josh Fryar at left tackle.

The Cardinals, with multiple wide receiver injuries, will also elevate wide receivers Trent Sherfield Sr. and Jalen Brooks from the practice squad for a second straight game.

Nichols signed a three-year free-agent contract in 2024, and hadn't missed a game up until that point in four NFL seasons. But last season he played just six games because of a serious neck injury. That rehab lasted into this season. He finally came off IR but appeared in just four games, missing one for the birth of his child and becoming a healthy scratch in a couple of others. He hurt his knee against the Rams and was already deemed out for Sunday's game.

Even with the IR move, the Cardinals already have seven other players listed as out for Sunday, making for an easy inactives listing. The elevation of the two receivers means wide receiver Xavier Weaver (hamstring) is likely to miss another game.