Cardinals defensive lineman Kaleb Proctor to open camp on PUP list with knee injury
Proctor’s salary will be prorated to $515,000 for each game missed, down from the rookie minimum, as the Arizona Cardinals prepare for the 2025 regular season.
The Arizona Cardinals are set to report to training camp on July 22, initiating the final preparations for the 2025 regular season. Among the roster adjustments ahead of camp, defensive lineman Kaleb Proctor is expected to begin on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list. The fourth-round draft pick sustained a knee injury during offseason work, a development that significantly impacts his availability for the upcoming campaign.
Head coach Mike LaFleur indicated that Proctor faces a lengthy recovery period. LaFleur suggested it is possible the defensive lineman will not play in the 2025 season at all. This assessment casts doubt on Proctor’s immediate contribution to the team’s defensive line rotation as the Cardinals work to determine starting roles and roster depth.
Proctor, a 6-foot-2, 291-pound player, recorded 43 tackles, 13 for loss, and nine sacks across 13 games at Southeastern Louisiana in 2025. He was viewed as a consistent playmaker entering the NFL. His four-year rookie contract is valued at $5.64 million, which includes a $1.26 million signing bonus. The salary-cap charge for the current year is listed at $1.26 million.
The financial implications of the PUP list placement are specific to Proctor’s contract structure. For every regular-season game he spends on the inactive list, his salary will be reduced to a prorated portion of the split terms of his deal, amounting to $515,000. This figure is notably lower than the standard rookie minimum of $885,000.
Coverage of the Cardinals’ roster preview, including Proctor’s status, is provided by Cards Wire. The reporting is part of a broader series examining every player on the offseason roster, with additional insights available through the Rise Up, See Red podcast hosted by Jess Root and others.
