Ryan Williams Fantasy News

Tuesday, May 8, 2012, 2:30pm

Cardinals RB Ryan Williams is ahead of schedule as he returns from a ruptured patella tendon.

“I still have time,” Williams said. “I am running and cutting and doing things I didn’t think I’d be doing this early. I’m not worried about it.”

The Cardinals must have confidence. Even though Williams went through what he went through — and starter Beanie Wells is still rehabbing from his own knee surgery — the Cards didn’t draft a running back nor sign an undrafted rookie. There’s always a chance that could come (it seems likely the Cards will at least get another body for OTAs and maybe minicamp) but there has to be a belief Williams will be there by camp and ready to go.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 2:36pm

Arizona RB Ryan Williams, a second round pick back in April who is out for the season, undergoes rehabilitation five days a week. On Mondays and Tuesdays, he also works out; on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays he attends meetings.

The team said he is making good progress. He initially was told he shouldn't count on being available in the spring, but recently learned he indeed is targeted to return for minicamps.

Monday, September 12, 2011, 2:47pm

Cardinals RB LaRod Stephens-Howling (biceps, hand contusion) will be evaluated today.

Arizona RB Ryan Williams officially out for the season
Saturday, August 20, 2011, 8:22pm

Rookie Arizona Cardinals running back Ryan Williams does indeed have a ruptured patella tendon. He will have surgery and is now officially out for the season.

Saturday, August 20, 2011, 2:08pm

With Cardinals running back Ryan Williams likely out for the season, Arizona's decision to trade Tim Hightower to the Redskins again will be questioned. At least the timing of it.

Williams likely suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee Friday. Tests will confirm, but it appears he's headed for surgery and a long rehabilitation period.

There already has been a lot of second-guessing, via twitter, about trading Hightower. And the timing of the deal was interesting.

With Hightower gone, the Cardinals have only four running backs in camp. Now it's three. And that counts LaRod Stephens-Howling, who at 5-7 and 185 pounds is not going to replace Beanie Wells should something happen to him.

Coaches are pleased with the development of Alfonso Smith, who was on the practice squad last year, but the team likely will add a back in the coming days. The options aren't attractive. With rosters at 90, most backs are already in camp. You can find flaws in all the ones available, from Tiki Barber to LenDale White to Laurence Maroney.

QB Aaron Rodgers as sharp as ever
Saturday, August 20, 2011, 12:00pm

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers topped off a sharp performance with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings as the defending Super Bowl champions defeated the Arizona Cardinals 28-20.

Rodgers played into the second quarter, completing 9 of 12 passes for 97 yards and the touchdown. Matt Flynn took over for Rodgers and led the Packers to another touchdown before halftime, a 2-yard run by rookie Alex Green.

Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb was 6 for 11 for 80 yards for the Cardinals, who were called for nine penalties in the first half, including several sloppy mistakes on offense.

Richard Bartel threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Stephen Williams and Alfonso Smith added a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Cardinals the lead in the third quarter.

But Flynn threw a 97-yard touchdown to Chastin West on the first play of the fourth quarter, putting the Packers back ahead 21-20. Third-stringer Graham Harrell threw a 6-yard touchdown to Kerry Taylor in the fourth quarter.

Cardinals fear Ryan Williams will be out for season
Saturday, August 20, 2011, 5:56am

The Arizona Cardinals think rookie running back Ryan Williams tore a patella tendon in his right knee.

That was the preliminary word from coach Ken Whisenhunt following the Cardinals' 28-20 preseason defeat at Green Bay on Friday night. Williams would miss the 2011 season if that were the case. He would then face a grueling rehabilitation.

This injury could lead to more playing time for LaRod Stephens-Howling. The Cardinals have used Stephens-Howling increasingly over the past couple seasons, sometimes with three wide receivers and another running back.

Monday, August 8, 2011, 7:24pm

Beanie Wells still projects as the starting running back heading into the season even though rookie second-round choice Ryan Williams has impressed. Wells fumbled during the first full-contact goal-line session of camp.

Williams looks like the better pure runner. Where Wells is more of a downhill runner with straight-line tendencies, Williams has shown he can cut effortlessly, even at high speed.

Sunday, August 7, 2011, 9:56pm

Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells faces a different dynamic this season. In his first two years, he played behind Tim Hightower, a favorite of coaches because of his intelligence and toughness. But Hightower is gone, traded to Washington a week ago, and Wells, for a change, faces competition from someone younger, not older.

The Cardinals drafted Virginia Tech's Ryan Williams in the second round, and though Wells is the starter, it's tenuous.

Like most other NFL coaches, Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt isn't keen on revealing detailed information about injuries during the season. So last year when Wells struggled with knee pain, no one outside the organization knew the seriousness of it.

But one day reporters noticed incision marks on Wells' knee. He had undergone arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus.

Wells feels far more explosive than he did a year ago.

Beanie Wells: I am ready to tear it up
Friday, June 17, 2011, 1:12pm

Running back Beanie Wells was on “The Chuck and Vince Live” show this morning on The Fan AM 1060, and while he’s obviously going to portray confidence, he also made it clear he understands his opportunities to show something — at least in Arizona — are probably dwindling.

“This is definitely going to be my year without a doubt,” Wells said. “This is my third year and three strikes and you’re out, and I’m definitely not striking out. I am ready to tear it up. It’s my time and I am ready to go out and prove that.”