TEMPE — Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon presented good news for his team’s offensive line, saying Thursday that right tackle Jonah Williams has a “good chance” to return this season.
Williams, an offseason free agent signee, suffered a knee injury in Week 1 at the Buffalo Bills and landed on injured reserve.
The Cardinals had since lost right guard Will Hernandez to a season-ending knee injury, leading to shuffling along the right side of the line. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Oct. 2 Williams’ season outlook was uncertain.
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“(Williams is) doing extremely well,” Gannon said.
“He’s in there with me in the morning. He gets in there early, gets his stuff done and comes back multiple times. He’s doing well. He’s positive. He’s making good strides.”
Kelvin Beachum has filled in at right tackle in place of Williams. Trystan Colon and Isaiah Adams received reps at right guard on Sunday at the Green Bay Packers, and Adams also slotted in at left guard when Evan Brown left with an ankle issue.
Williams’ timetable remains unclear.
Cardinals injury updates for Bilal Nichols, Matt Prater
The Cardinals placed defensive tackle Bilal Nichols (neck) and kicker Matt Prater (knee) on injured reserve this week.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Nichols was done for the season, and Gannon confirmed the news Thursday. The Cardinals have lost both free-agent defensive line additions Nichols and Justin Jones (triceps) for the season.
“He’s been having a little bit of a stinger issue, so we ran a bunch of tests and it just kind of makes sense to give him some rest here,” Gannon said. “It hurts. They obviously had big roles for us, two starters, but the other guys will step in and pick up the slack.”
Prater’s injury, which cost him the previous two games, is not expected to end his season.
Gannon called it a short-term reserve stint for the 40-year-old.