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Cardinals’ Bilal Nichols Out For Season, ‘Good Chance’ Jonah Williams Returns

October 17th, 2024 at 12:26pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Cardinals defensive tackle Bilal Nichols will be out for the rest of the 2024 season, head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed on Thursday, per team reporter Darren Urban.

Nichols was knocked out of Arizona’s Week 6 loss to the Packers with a stinger, and further evaluation revealed a season-ending injury that landed him on injured reserve on October 15. He will join Justin Jones – who tore his triceps in Week 3 – on the sideline for the rest of the year, severely depleting the Cardinals’ defensive line rotation.

Nichols and Jones were two of general manager Monti Ossenfort‘s major free agency signings this offseason, meant to short up Arizona’s league-worst rushing defense in 2023. The injuries have made any improvements marginal at best; the Cardinals rank 30th with 918 yards allowed on the ground this season. Now, only Roy Lopez remains from the starting defensive line, with Khyiris Tonga, L.J. Collier, Naquan Jones and Dante Stills expected to fill the void.

Ossenfort can hope for a better return on his other big offseason investment: offensive tackle Jonah Williams. Gannon said there is a “good chance” that Williams returns from a Week 1 knee injury that initially put the rest of his season in jeopardy, according to Urban.

Veteran Kelvin Beachum has taken over for Williams at right tackle since Week 1 outside of a minor injury in Week 3 that required relief efforts from both Jackson Barton and Charlie Heck. The position has not been a weakness for the Cardinals’ offense, but there is little doubt that Williams would still be an upgrade if he can return this year.

Kicker Matt Prater is also on injured reserve in Arizona, but Gannon said that it is possible he returns this season. In the meantime, the Cardinals have relied on Chad Ryland, who converted five of his six attempts including a game-winner against the 49ers in Week 5.

Cardinals’ Jonah Williams Uncertain To Return In 2024

October 2nd, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Out since suffering a knee injury in Week 1, Jonah Williams would be eligible to return next week. It does not look like the Arizona free agency acquisition will come particularly close to that, and his availability for the season’s remainder is murky.

Williams played 22 snaps in his Cardinals debut, leaving and landing on IR soon after. The Cardinals have kept their cards close to the vest on the former first-round pick’s availability, but ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler indicates the veteran tackle’s season is in jeopardy.

It is not known what specific knee injury Williams suffered, but it probably is not an ACL tear. That would remove the uncertainty about this situation, as Fowler adds a November return has been floated. Considerable doubt exists, however, about whether that is realistic. As it stands, the Cardinals may be forced to scramble at right tackle the rest of the way.

Costs are low on Arizona’s O-line beyond Williams, who signed a two-year, $30MM deal in March. Williams came over a year after requesting a trade (and then backtracking) from the Bengals, and despite that trade ask aimed at being moved to a team that would station him at left tackle, the 2019 first-round pick signed with a team planning to slot him on the right side.

The Cardinals cut longtime left tackle D.J. Humphries but moved 2023 first-rounder Paris Johnson Jr. from RT to LT — in a move that followed Humphries’ early-career trajectory. (Humphries suffered an ACL tear in Week 17 of last season; he is not believed to be healthy enough to pass a physical.)

Johnson has stayed healthy and has played well; Pro Football Focus ranks the second-year blocker ninth among all tackles. The advanced metrics site views Williams’ replacement, Kelvin Beachum, as a top-40 option. The Cardinals retained Beachum last year despite drafting Johnson sixth overall last year, keeping the 35-year-old blocker around as a swingman. That insurance has become important this season, one that featured Kyler Murray‘s return to full-time duty.

Williams, 27, missed all of his rookie year due to a shoulder injury and saw a dislocated kneecap sideline him for the bulk of the Bengals’ 2022 playoff run. He returned on time in 2023 and played all 17 Cincinnati games, commanding a quality short-term contract on a weak tackle market. Cardinals guaranteed $2.5MM of Williams’ $10.78MM 2025 base salary. A $2.5MM injury guarantee also exists in the contract for 2025; that would kick in if the sixth-year vet cannot pass a physical to start the ’25 league year.

Cardinals Place RT Jonah Williams On IR

September 11th, 2024 at 12:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

12:06pm: The Cardinals are transferring Williams to IR, Gannon announced. This is not too surprising given the initial report. The sixth-year blocker will be sidelined until at least Week 6. Gannon is not sure if Williams will require surgery on his unspecified knee injury.

10:29am: Jonah Williams‘ Cardinals debut involved only 22 snaps, as an injury took the free agency addition off the field. The Cardinals will need to make an early-season adjustment as a result.

The former first-round pick will miss time due to the knee injury he sustained in Buffalo, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. While the team is still evaluating how long it will need to play without its highest-paid blocker, it does appear a multi-week absence is on the table.

Although Williams missed his entire rookie season due to a shoulder injury, he has played at least 16 games in each of the past three seasons. However, the 2019 first-round pick’s Bengals tenure also included a 2020 IR placement due to a knee malady. Williams missed six missed games that season. It is premature to suggest Williams’ next injury hiatus will rival that, but if he is placed on IR, no activation can commence until at least Week 6.

Williams agreed to a two-year, $30MM deal with the Cardinals in free agency. While Williams protested a switch to right tackle by requesting a trade out of Cincinnati last year, he ended up doing as the team asked and switching positions (to accommodate the Bengals’ Orlando Brown Jr. signing). Williams’ initial hesitancy about an RT move made it interesting he would sign with a team planning to use him on the right side. Arizona soon switched Paris Johnson Jr. from right to left tackle.

The five-year Bengal is the only Cards O-lineman tied to a contract north of $6MM per year. Pairing with Johnson’s rookie contract, Williams was to step in as veteran help in Jonathan Gannon‘s second season. That plan is on hold, but a Steve Keim-era pickup is plenty qualified to man the fort in the meantime.

Kelvin Beachum came in to relieve Williams against the Bills. Despite the Cardinals demoting the veteran last year by drafting Johnson sixth overall, he has remained as an experienced swingman under Gannon and OC Drew Petzing. Beachum, 35, has been with the Cardinals since 2020. He worked as the team’s full-time right tackle from 2020-22, making this a rather easy transition compared to the transitions teams often have to make when a starting O-lineman goes down. Granted, Beachum did struggle against Von Miller, but he still provides the Cardinals with a proven option rather than a career backup or spot starter being asked to come in.

With D.J. Humphries off the roster, Beachum is Arizona’s longest-tenured O-lineman. He has 149 NFL starts on his resume. The former Steelers and Jets left tackle starter is tied to a two-year, $5.15MM contract.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC North

August 28th, 2024 at 2:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Bears, Lions, Packers and Vikings moves are noted below.

Chicago Bears

Signed:

Claimed:

Placed on IR:

Signed to practice squad:

Detroit Lions

Signed:

Claimed:

Signed to practice squad:

Green Bay Packers

Signed:

Claimed:

Signed to practice squad:

Minnesota Vikings

Signed:

Claimed:

Signed to practice squad:

Cardinals Move Paris Johnson Jr. To LT

May 21st, 2024 at 5:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

Seven years ago, the Cardinals flipped their starting tackles by moving Jared Veldheer to the right side and first-round pick D.J. Humphries to the left edge in their then-Carson Palmer-centered offense. Chosen in the first round eight years after Humphries, Paris Johnson Jr. will be at the center of a Cardinals position revamp up front.

Arizona used Johnson as its right tackle in 2023, but the former No. 6 overall pick is ticketed for the blindside post this season. Jonathan Gannon confirmed the Ohio State product will play on the left side during the offseason program, as a development effort — one that will see free agency addition Jonah Williams continue at right tackle — ensues ahead of Johnson’s second season. Johnson has been working at his new spot since the Cardinals began on-field work this offseason.

“Paris obviously playing both, Jonah playing both, but we’ll start there and see how it goes,” Gannon said, via AZCardinals.com’s Darren Urban. “That’s what they both feel comfortable with right now.”

While noting he holds veto power regarding this effort, Gannon is pointing to another Cardinals tackle switch-up. The above-referenced change occurred after Humphries played right tackle in his de facto rookie year (the 2015 first-rounder missed all of his actual first season). Humphries remained in that post through last season. The Cardinals said they would be open to re-signing Humphries — a March cap casualty — but their recent Johnson-focused announcement makes a reunion highly unlikely.

At this time last year, the prospect of Johnson beginning at guard was in play. The Cardinals employed Humphries and Josh Jones and had just re-signed Kelvin Beachum. But the team slotted its top draftee on the right side. Johnson started all 17 games at RT as a rookie. A move to the left side always seemed in play, with Johnson finishing his college career there and earning first-team All-American acclaim. Johnson played right guard for the Buckeyes in 2022.

This move is perhaps more interesting for Williams, who made a trade request — a Bengals regularity over the past two springs — after the team kicked him to the right side. Cincinnati’s Orlando Brown Jr. signing “blindsided” Williams, though the three-year Bengals LT retracted his trade ask and went to work on the right side. Williams started opposite Brown throughout last season and signed a two-year, $30MM Cardinals deal.

Williams agreeing to terms with a team to play right tackle is notable given the events in his final Bengals offseason. It would also seem easier for the Cardinals to keep Johnson on the right side and install Williams at the position with which he is most comfortable. But Johnson certainly brings higher upside; the team will begin an earnest developmental effort for him to take over as Kyler Murray‘s blindside protector. Pro Football Focus ranked Johnson and Williams 57th and 59th among tackles last season.

Beachum, 35 next month, remains on Arizona’s roster as a swing tackle. The team returns right guard Will Hernandez and center Hjalte Froholdt. Williams’ deal contains $19MM fully guaranteed, covering part of his 2025 salary. The team added Evan Brown in free agency, still rosters Elijah Wilkinson and used a third-round pick on Isaiah Adams. Brown, Wilkinson and Adams are set to compete for the left guard gig, Urban adds. Gannon confirmed the Brown signing will not move the Cardinals to try Froholdt at guard.

Cardinals To Sign OT Jonah Williams

March 13th, 2024 at 6:35pm CST by Ben Levine

The Cardinals have already found a replacement for D.J. Humphries. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Cardinals are expected to sign offensive tackle Jonah Williams.

[RELATED: Cardinals Release OT D.J. Humphries]

Williams is inking a two-year deal worth $30MM. According to Rapoport, Arizona was the free agent’s preferred landing spot.

Williams returned from his 2022 postseason knee injury to start all 17 Bengals games this past season. Pro Football Focus graded him only 59th among offensive tackles, although the lineman could get some benefit of the doubt thanks to an unexpected position change.

The Bengals blindsided Williams last year by signing Orlando Brown Jr. to a $16MM-per-year deal, pushing the former first-round pick from left tackle to right tackle. Williams wasn’t happy with the move ahead of his impending free agency and requested a trade. He ended up sticking in Cincy for the 2023 campaign, but it seemed likely that Williams would be looking for a new home in free agency.

The Alabama product’s first two seasons were highlighted by injuries. He missed his entire rookie campaign thanks to a torn labrum, and he was limited to only 10 games in 2020. Williams has bounced back over the past few years, however, missing only a pair of regular season games since 2021.

It’s unlikely he gets his desired LT role in Arizona, as the Cardinals will likely turn to 2023 first-round pick Paris Johnson Jr. to replace Humphries, who was cut by the organization earlier this evening. Williams will slide to the right side of the offensive line for a second-straight season, with veteran Kelvin Beachum providing some veteran depth behind the starting duo.

 

Bengals Want To Re-Sign Tee Higgins, Uncertain To Retain Jonah Williams

February 1st, 2024 at 4:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin quickly took Tee Higgins out of trade rumors in his contract year, indicating the team’s No. 2 wide receiver would not be available. While Higgins did not take a step forward in 2023, he still stands to be one of the top pass catchers available — should the Ja’Marr Chase sidekick reach free agency.

Tobin is a bit less emphatic about Higgins’ future with the team this year. The former second-round pick played out his rookie deal and will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in March. If the Bengals do not have Higgins franchise-tagged by March 5 or re-signed by March 11, the Clemson product will be free to speak with other teams.

Seeing as Chase will understandably be the receiver priority and the team having made Joe Burrow the NFL’s highest-paid player, the prospect of losing Higgins has long been on the horizon. The Bengals do, however, want to re-sign the four-year starter. A January report also indicated the team is prepared to tag the 6-foot-4 pass catcher.

“We’ll see what happens this year,” Tobin said, via the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway. “I want Tee Higgins back. Everyone on our team would like to have Tee Higgins back. Again, there’s one pie and how big of a slice that takes and what else we can’t do because of it, we’ll have to determine and we’ll see.”

Higgins, who finished an injury-plagued season with career-low marks in receptions (42) and yards (656), would cost approximately $21.7MM to retain on the tag. The Bengals cuffed A.J. Green back in 2020. That situation, when Burrow was on a rookie deal, obviously differs from present circumstances. Burrow is now the NFL’s salary kingpin, and Chase is on track to one day become the league’s highest-paid receiver.

Thanks to the fifth-year option, Chase can be kept on his rookie contract through the 2025 season. No team in the fifth-year option era has extended a first-round receiver with two years of control remaining on a rookie deal; as was the case with Justin Jefferson in Minnesota, this points Cincinnati toward Chase extension talks in his fifth year (2025) rather than this offseason.

Still, a future with Chase on a deal that eclipses $30MM per year will impact the Bengals’ decision on Higgins. The sides engaged in extension talks before the season, but Higgins did not find the team’s offer appealing. The Bengals still rebuffed trade interest before the deadline. Burrow’s contract also features a midlevel cap number in 2024 ($29.7MM) before spiking past $45MM in 2025. Burrow’s contract structure and the prospect of Chase being kept on a rookie rate next season does keep the door open for a Higgins rental year.

Tobin seems less optimistic Jonah Williams can be retained. The Bengals blindsided Williams by signing Orlando Brown Jr. to a $16MM-per-year deal, a move that kicked the three-year left tackle to the right side. Williams requested a trade but returned to the fold during the summer. It certainly looks like the four-year O-line starter will be on the move soon.

“I don’t know what the future holds. We’ll see,” Tobin said, via Conway. “We’ve got this pie, whether there’s a big enough piece of pie for him or he’s going to get a bigger piece of pie somewhere else, we’ll see. It’s hard to predict right now exactly what other teams are going to do and their interest level in any of our free agents. We’re proud of Jonah for the way he played.”

Williams, 26, returned from his postseason knee injury to start all 17 Bengals games this past season. Pro Football Focus graded him 59th among tackles, and it will be interesting to see if Williams makes it clear ahead of free agency he wants to return to left tackle for his next team. Regardless of position, the 2019 first-round pick would be one of the top O-linemen available if he hits the market.

Latest On Bengals’ Right Tackle Situation

August 15th, 2023 at 2:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bengals’ Orlando Brown Jr. signing created a crowded situation at right tackle, seeing three-year left tackle starter Jonah Williams begrudgingly change positions. But the former first-round pick is settling in at his new spot.

Williams rescinded his trade request earlier this summer, and Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic notes he is the clear leader in this tackle matchup. The top Williams competitor coming into camp, Jackson Carman, no longer appears a serious threat to start opposite Brown. Carman may now be battling for a roster spot (subscription required).

Although Carman lost two guard battles in his first two training camps, he fared better as Williams’ left tackle replacement in the playoffs. The former second-round pick replaced Williams against the Ravens in the wild-card round, after the starter suffered a dislocated left knee, and started against the Bills and Chiefs. But Carman may no longer be competing with Williams for the starting RT role; Dehner adds fellow 2021 draftee D’Ante Smith is pushing Carman for the swing role.

Smith has seen time at right tackle recently, moving over from the second-string left tackle role he had held earlier. With Williams in place as the top Brown replacement option, as the Bengals would slide him back to his old spot and move their swingman to right tackle, Dehner notes the RT2 role represents the Bengals’ top tackle backup. Viewed as a project upon coming into the league as a fourth-rounder out of East Carolina, Smith has played just 56 career offensive snaps.

Cincinnati’s right tackle situation will become more complicated when La’el Collins comes off the active/PUP list. Rehabbing ACL and MCL tears, Collins is a candidate for the reserve/PUP list but may also be a cap casualty. Given Collins’ experience, he would stand to generate interest from tackle-needy teams if released. Collins, 30, has not returned to practice. The Bengals were also not exactly thrilled with his pre-injury work.

As for Williams, he can create a nice free agent market with a good contract year. The 2019 first-round pick last played right tackle as a freshman at Alabama. Pro Football Focus graded Williams outside the top 60 at tackle last season, but the veteran blocker attributed his shakier form to not being 100% after a Week 5 kneecap subluxation. The Bengals and Jaguars discussed Williams before the draft, but Jacksonville took Anton Harrison in Round 1. No trade rumblings regarding Williams have come out since.

“He looks like he’s been there for a few years,” Bengals offensive line coach Frank Pollack said, via Dehner, of Williams. “I’m impressed. He’s a good player. He’s athletic, he’s a smart player and he’s just grooving that power hand and that power foot, and my hat’s off to him. It’s really been a lot more seamless and smooth than I would anticipate for any guy.”

While Williams is going into a contract year, two seasons remain on Carman and Smith’s rookie deals. Collins is under contract through 2024 as well, though the Bengals would take on just $1.7MM in dead money by releasing him before September’s vested veteran guarantee date.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/23/23

July 23rd, 2023 at 5:58pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s minor moves heading into the week:

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Detroit Lions

Ravens fans can breathe a sigh of relief now that Bateman is set to return for camp. Bateman missed most of the team’s spring activities after receiving a cortisone shot in hopes it would help him get back in time for camp. It was slightly concerning that he didn’t initially report with the rest of the team, but general manager Eric DeCosta had reassured the media that Bateman was expected back soon. Two days later and Bateman should be in attendance for camp to start this week.

Claypool has been dealing with a soft tissue injury from earlier in the offseason. He was expected back in time for camp but clearly will have to wait a bit to rejoin the team.

With the departure of Eli Apple in free agency, Awuzie is expected to take a step up in the Bengals’ defense this year. Cincinnati will hope to get him back and working with the first-team secondary again soon. The absences of Cochran and Collins leave the team a little thin on tackle depth, but the starters remain available as Jonah Williams avoids any injury designations.

Detroit will have Jameson Williams available for training camp but not for the start of the season. The Lions will be hoping to get the opposite result for Jones, who will be unavailable to start camp.

Jonah Williams Addresses Bengals Future, Recovery Timeline

June 13th, 2023 at 11:49am CST by Adam La Rose

With the Bengals having added Orlando Brown Jr. this offseason to operate on the blindside, plenty of questions have been raised regarding the future of Jonah Williams. The team’s now-former left tackle is in attendance at mandatory minicamp, and he spoke about his approach to the 2023 season and his recovery from knee surgery.

Williams requested a trade upon Brown’s arrival, something which will relegate the former first-rounder to competing for the starting right tackle spot. He is due $12.6MM this season on the fifth-year option, making the 2023 campaign a crucial one as he approaches free agency for the first time in his career. Williams was not present for Cincinnati’s voluntary OTAs, but he has arrived for the three-day mandatory minicamp.

“I’ll be happy to be a contributor on a team where I have so many great teammates,” the Alabama product said, via Geoff Hobson of the team’s website. “l love everyone in the room, love the coaches, love the fans. I’m stoked.”

Those remarks could represent a withdrawal of Williams’ trade request, something which failed to yield much in the way of tangible conversations for the Bengals on the subject of a potential swap. The Jaguars are the only known team which discussed a potential trade for the 25-year-old. With his future set to remain in Cincinnati, Williams is turning his attention to his health ahead of the 2023 season.

A dislocated kneecap cost him much of the team’s playoff run last season, prompting surgery and leading to questions about his ability to return to full health and at least match his performances of years past. Williams is confident that he will be back on the field in time for training camp next month, though, which will give him the opportunity to challenge for the RT spot with the likes of La’el Collins (when healthy), Jackson Carman, Cody Ford and Hakeem Adeniji. That endeavor is something he is approaching with confidence.

“I’m incorporating my rehab into football drills working out of the right tackle stance,” Williams added. “[The biggest adjustment] is re-learning everything for the other side of your body. Opposite stance… It’s nothing that reps and practice won’t get me used to… There’s a lot of technique to kind of unlearn and switch to the other side. It’s my job. I love it… I’m going to crush it.”

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