Jonah Williams Injured and Placed on Reserve List

Cardinals Official Statement

The Arizona Cardinals’ right tackle, Jonah Williams, suffered a knee injury in the season opener against the Buffalo Bills, leading to an unexpected turn of events. This information was confirmed on Wednesday when the Cardinals announced that Williams had been placed on the injured reserve list. Coach Jonathan Gannon chose to hold back on speculating about the player’s return timeline, stating they were “still gathering more information about that.”

Potential Surgery

Gannon also held back on confirming whether Williams would need surgery, stating that he was “not sure yet.” The unfortunate incident unfolded during the Cardinals’ 34-28 loss to the Bills, with the injury occurring on the final play of the first quarter.

Williams’ Replacement

With Williams’ injury, veteran Kelvin Beachum, known for his remarkable record of starting 149 out of his 164 career games since his drafting in 2012, stepped in as a replacement. Beachum is expected to remain the right tackle for the foreseeable future. “There’s a comfort level with Beachum being the vet that he is and how many games he’s played, obviously,” commented Gannon. He confidently added, “But whoever is in there, we feel good about getting the job done.”

Williams’ Significant Contract

Williams, who joined the Cardinals in March following a two-year contract worth up to $30 million, including $19 million guaranteed, was seen as a significant addition to the team. This move followed the release of the longstanding left tackle D.J. Humphries on the same day the Cardinals agreed to terms with Williams.

Gannon’s Take on the Situation

Losing Williams after just one quarter in Week 1 is part of the game, Gannon expressed. He added, “Life in the NFL,” and emphasized the need to “figure out a plan and go to work.”

Related Roster Moves

In related news, the Cardinals made additional adjustments to their roster. Linebacker Julian Okwara was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster, and offensive lineman Charlie Heck was signed to the practice squad.