Jonah

Williams

Williams has started all nine games he’s appeared in for the Cardinals this season, but missed Week 11’s game due to his shoulder injury. The veteran tackle has allowed 21 pressures and three sacks this season while earning a PFF grade of 55.9, and is in the final year of a two-year deal he signed last offseason. Williams, 28, has 74 games of starting experience under his belt and should have plenty of suitors next season if the Cardinals don’t opt to bring him back.

The Cardinals are heading into Week 11 banged up. Harrison is dealing with appendicitis while Browning, Johnson, Taylor-Demerson, and Williams are all ruled out with injuries. The defense will be thin against a 49ers offense that is healing with Brock Purdy and Ricky Pearsall active this week.

Both players are done for 2024. They signed Jackson Barton off the practice squad in a corresponding move. Johnson had an extremely successful sophomore season, finishing with a 80.8 PFF grade and should be Arizona’s blindside tackle in 2025. Williams played just 343 snaps while dealing with injuries and will be on the final year of a two-year, $30 million deal he signed with the Cardinals last offseason. It’s possible the Cardinals could cut Williams after an injury-plagued season, but they’d only free up a little over $3 million in cap space if they did so the normal way. Kyler Murray’s line will be in rough shape for Weeks 17 and 18.

Arizona will be without both of its starting tackles this week after being eliminated from postseason contention in Week 16 against the Panthers. It’s bad news for Kyler Murray and the Cardinals offense, and it makes the Rams defense an interesting fantasy option off the waiver wire. The Cards headed into Week 17 have what Pro Football Focus grades as the NFL’s fifth best pass-blocking offensive line.

Williams was added to the injury report because of the illness this morning. He appears to be good to go for Week 15. Inactive for the Cardinals are OL Christian Jones, TE Travis Vokolek, WR Xavier Weaver, and DL Khyiris Tonga.

Williams went down with what appeared to be a season-ending knee injury after just 22 snaps in Week 1. The injury news wasn’t as bad as Arizona initially feared and the team took him off injured reserve ahead of Week 9. He still hasn’t made his return to the lineup, but all signs point to that happening today. Kelvin Beachum has held down the right tackle spot admirably and could still be used to limit Williams’ reps in his first game back.

Williams was limited through three practices this week and could suit up for the first time since Week 1. His presence would provide a small boost to the Cardinals pass protection and run blocking.

Williams will have to wait at least one more week to suit up. First-round rookie DT Darius Robinson (calf) will also miss out on Week 9 action and has yet to make his NFL debut. Both players failed to practice all week. Starting nose tackle Roy Lopez (ankle) is questionable to play.

The Cardinals now have 21 days to officially activate him from injured reserve. Williams suffered a knee injury in Week 1 that threatened to sideline him for the remainder of the season. Things have turned in his favor and he’s now expected to return in the coming weeks. Williams will take over for Kelvin Beachum at right tackle when healthy.

Williams was reportedly at risk of missing the 2024 season with a knee injury that has plagued him since Week 1. While he still feels a way off from returning, his working with trainers is a good sign that he’s working to get back. Head coach Jonathan Gannon also said on Thursday that he thinks we’ll see Williams play again this season. We’ll get a sense of when Williams could return when the Cardinals open his 21-day return window, which they have not done at this time.