Maxx

Williams

Williams was a surprise release last week but is now back with the team as a member of the practice squad. Williams appeared on 54 offensive snaps through the Cardinals’ first four games of the season but has been a non-factor in the passing game.

Williams had not practiced ahead of this week, but had played in each of Arizona’s first four games of the season in his return from a torn ACL. He was outsnapped by Trey McBride in Week 4 and probably fell behind the rookie in the pecking order. This is still a surprise release at a stunning time. It’s possible Arizona is going to use this roster spot to activate some players from injured reserve. Williams will probably get snatched up as a backup sometime next week.

Williams tore his ACL in Week 5 last season and began training camp on PUP. His return to practice signals that he has a chance to be ready for the start of the season. Things have gotten a lot more crowded at the tight end position since Williams last took the field for Arizona. The Cardinals traded for Zach Ertz following his injury and then drafted Trey McBride in the second round. Williams is likely to operate primarily as a blocker but will allow the Cardinals to play more 12 personnel once healthy.

Williams suffered a catastrophic knee injury in Week 5 last season and had little chance of being ready to go for training camp. The team will hope he’s ready for the regular season in what will likely be a TE3 role behind Zach Ertz and rookie Trey McBride.

Williams went down in Week 5 last year, putting the 28-year-old at eight months removed from his torn ACL. The Cardinals re-signed him in March knowing Williams would likely miss at least the start of camp. On a stacked depth chart with Zach Ertz and second-round TE Trey McBride ahead of him, it won’t be surprising if Williams opens the season on reserve/PUP, which would sideline him the first six games.

Arizona added Williams in 2019 after his career had fizzled out in Baltimore. He immediately stepped into a larger role than he had ever seen with the Ravens and appeared on nearly half of the Cardinals’ offensive snaps in his first season with the team. He was kept around for the next two seasons to serve primarily as a blocker. Before suffering a season-ending knee injury last year. Williams had racked up 16 catches for 193 yards in five games. With Zach Ertz coming back for the upcoming season, Williams will resume his role as a blocking specialist.

Williams took a brutal shot to the right knee in Arizona’s Week 5 win and was carted off the field. Williams had established himself as a consistent part of the Cardinals’ productive passing game, catching 15 of 15 targets from Kyler Murray from Week 2 to Week 4. He averaged 21.33 pass routes per game in that stretch and played nearly 66 percent of the Cards’ offensive snaps. His loss means Darrell Daniels -- who’s on the COVID-19 list -- is Arizona’s No. 1 tight end going forward. Daniels could be interesting in deep tight end premium formats.

Williams took a helmet to his leg at the end of a second quarter reception. It looked extremely bad and apparently was. The entire Cardinals roster came over to greet Williams after he was loaded onto the cart. Williams would be a huge loss going forward, as he has emerged as a legitimate pass-catching concern up the seam. Stay tuned.

Williams always seemed on the right side of questionable. He can be trusted as a mid-range TE2 for what will hopefully be a shootout with San Francisco.

Williams was limited the last two days at Cardinals’ practice. The shoulder injury shouldn’t keep Williams out this week but he’ll likely be at less than 100 percent. Williams is coming off a 5/66/1 line in Week 4 and is averaging five targets per game through the first month of the season.