Sweat Deal? Not Happening: Cardinals GM Shuts Down Trade Noise

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The rumor mill has been on fire all summer, with whispers that Josh Sweat wanted out of Arizona. Well, pump the brakes on that narrative. Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort made it crystal clear Monday: Josh Sweat isn't going anywhere.

"There's always a lot of talk that goes around that. We have no interest in trading Josh," Ossenfort said. "We're excited to have him... Had a great year last year. Excited for more good things out of him this year."

That's a direct answer to the speculation that's been swirling since the edge rusher skipped voluntary workouts and stayed away from mandatory minicamp. Sweat, coming off a career-high 12 sacks in 2025, has been on the PUP list since reporting to camp in July with a knee injury. He hasn't practiced with the team yet.

But the Cardinals are playing it cool. Head coach Mike LaFleur has repeatedly shrugged off concerns about Sweat's absence. And on Monday, Ossenfort revealed that the star pass rusher is trending in the right direction.

"Josh is getting closer every day," Ossenfort said. "I think Josh is going to be out there in due time to get ready for the season opener, and we're excited to get him out there and get him going."

No Panic in the Desert

The vibe here is simple: Arizona isn't sweating it. They see Sweat as a cornerstone of their pass rush, and the front office isn't budging despite the noise. Is he fully healthy yet? No. But the team's confidence in him hasn't wavered.

The takeaway? If you were hoping for a blockbuster trade, keep dreaming. The Cardinals are locked in on getting Sweat on the field for Week 1 -- and they expect him to make a big impact once he gets there.