Eric Sorenson
The bad luck for second-year running back Ryan Williams and the Arizona Cardinals continued Monday when head coach Ken Whisenhunt announced Williams will miss the remainder of the season.
Injured in Thursday’s loss to the Rams, Williams will undergo shoulder surgery this week. He missed all of the 2011 season after rupturing his patella tendon in the preseason.
“It’s a tough thing for Ryan,” Whisenhunt told the assembled media late Monday morning. “We didn’t think after the game [surgery was going to be required]. After getting tests done on it and talking with the doctor [Sunday], it’s something that’s going to require surgery. The timetable is probably three months.”
It’s the latest setback for the Cardinals backfield, but some insiders believe there are bigger issues than the health of their backs.
“I don’t know if it’s the beginning of the end,” CBSSports.com NFL Senior columnist Clark Judge told Brad Cesmat Monday on ‘Big Guy on Sports.’ “I’m not sure…whether it makes a difference whether it’s Ryan Williams, Beanie Wells, or whoever is back there because if the holes aren’t there, you’re not going to get through.”
Judge is referring to the Cards patch-work offensive line which allowed nine sacks in Thursday’s loss in St. Louis. Quarterback Kevin Kolb was battered to point of a bloody lip after the Rams front-four spent most of the night in Arizona’s backfield.
“We got beat on the edge a couple of times,” Whisenhunt said after the game. “We have to work on technique and our sets and do some things to help those guys out.”
ProFootball Focus says the Cards have the two worst at their position in the NFL in left tackle D’Anthony Batiste and right guard Adam Snyder.
With limited options on the current roster and waiver wire, offensive line/assistant head coach Russ Grimm will need vast improvement from his line with upcoming games against the Vikings, 49ers, Packers and Falcons.
