Running back Ryan Williams has a lot to prove this season. He has to prove to the Cardinals' organization that he was worth the second-round pick it spent on him two years ago. He has to prove to Arizona's new coaching staff that he can be a starter in this league. And to prove those things, Williams he has to first prove he can stay healthy. But the injuries keep holding him back. Williams is not participating in practice, and there is no real timetable set for his return because of some right knee pain.
Williams' knee has been barking at him since the early days of camp. He said he has been told to rest his right knee due to some irritation of the "fatty pad under the patella tendon." Williams tore that same tendon during his first NFL preseason in 2011.
Fantasy Analysis:
I don't know if Williams will be out for an extended period of time, but this is just depressing. I really liked this kid coming out of Virginia Tech. The Cardinals needed an infusion of burst in their backfield while Beanie Wells was running with a piano on his back. But Williams just keeps getting hurt. I understand that this is simple knee irritation, but it's just one injury after another with him. Rashard Mendenhall looks like the Cardinals' clear-cut starting RB right now. If he misses much more time, Williams could find himself without a roster spot.