Arizona Cardinals cornerback Garrett Williams and kicker Matt Prater were absent from the team’s open portion of practice on Wednesday. As the Cardinals prepare for their Week 5 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, their first road game in four weeks, it’s unclear what specific injuries are keeping Williams and Prater sidelined. More details are expected when the injury report is released later today.
In the meantime, the Cardinals signed practice squad kicker Chad Ryland, formerly with the New England Patriots, who had worked out for the team last week.
Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon praised Williams earlier in the day, highlighting the second-year cornerback’s improvement in coverage. Gannon noted, “In the slot, he’s got tough matchups, often one-on-one against a full route tree, and he’s handling it well. He’s smart and processes the game effectively.”
Williams has quickly become Arizona’s top cover corner in just his second season. Prater’s absence, however, would be significant given his reliability on long-distance field goals.
Ryland, a 2023 fourth-round pick by the Patriots, kicked in all 17 games last season, making 16-of-25 field goals and 24-of-25 PATs. He joined Arizona after being released by New England in August.
Tight end Trey McBride, who missed last week’s game with a concussion, was present at practice.
