Garrett Williams is officially off the PUP list for the Arizona Cardinals, and honestly, that’s wild. The guy tore his Achilles in Week 16 last season against the Atlanta Falcons, a late December injury that usually means a six to twelve month recovery for pro athletes. We’re talking late August here, which puts his rehab at a stunning eight months. The team was already dealing with an insane amount of injuries last year, hitting 24 players on IR at one point, and this preseason hasn’t been much better with guys like OG Chase Bisontis and TEs Kenny Yeboah already lost for the year. This activation is a shocker given that kind of timeline, but the Cards clearly need all the help they can get.
The “No Timeline” Guy Is Back On The Field
Coach Mike LaFleur has been asked about Williams constantly, and he’s always kept a positive, albeit non-committal, vibe. Back on August 3, LaFleur told reporters, “Yeah, I’d say progress, but no timeline right now. If you ask Tip (Reiman), Tip’s feeling good. Garrett’s (Williams) feeling good. Sweaty’s feeling good. But I don’t have a timeline for you, and truly I mean that.” Well, it looks like “no timeline” just became “he’s back.” Williams is entering his fourth NFL season and is the second-oldest defensive back on the roster behind veteran S Budda Baker. His development was once seen as a key for that defensive backfield, though his play has been a mixed bag, looking like a gem in some games and completely lost in others.
Suddenly, It’s A Cornerback Brawl For Week 1
With Williams back, the Cardinals’ cornerback room is suddenly loaded. Will Johnson has already locked down the left outside cornerback spot, and Denzel Burke is set at the right outside. That leaves the slot corner position wide open, and it’s where Williams was initially earmarked to play. But guess what? Max Melton is going to push him hard for that spot. And don’t forget about Sean Murphy-Bunting, who is also in the mix. When Jonathan Gannon was the head coach, Williams lined up both inside and outside, so he’s got versatility. But the competition is going to be fierce, and LaFleur clearly believes healthy athletes thrive on that kind of pressure.
So, Williams is back, and the Cardinals’ secondary now has an unexpected logjam. How this plays out in the coming weeks before Week 1 is going to be must-watch. Who wins that slot battle? It’s going to be a grinder, and we’ll see if Williams can shake off the rust and the injury to reclaim his spot.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Revenge of the Birds.
Leave a Reply