Arizona Cardinals' Darrel Williams aims for key role at running back
Darrel Williams was the Kansas City Chiefs' leading rusher last season and amassed more than 1,000 yards of rushing and receiving yards combined. Yet according to him, Kansas City didn't make him an offer and allowed him to become a free agent.
He was asked about facing his old team in Week 1 of the regular season, when Williams, now an Arizona Cardinal after signing a one-year contract in the offseason, joins his new teammates in the regular season opener at home against Kansas City on Sept. 11.
"Really exciting. I can't wait," Williams said this week at training camp. He did not take part in the team's practice on Saturday at State Farm Stadium.
Williams said he signed with Cardinals because he likes the way the team uses its running backs. The Cardinals run the ball, but also like the backs to be able to catch the ball out of the backfield and make plays in the passing game.
"Whatever I've got to do, whatever the coaches need me to do, you know, I'll fit in whatever offense you put me in. Just give me the ball and I'm going to make something happen," Williams said.
With James Conner set to be the lead back, the competition in camp is for lesser roles. If head coach Kliff Kingsbury decides to keep four running backs on the active roster as he has talked about in the past, the top candidates could be Williams, Eno Benjamin and Jonathan Ward, all with NFL experience. But there are three rookies —Keaontay Ingram, Ronnie Rivers and T.J. Pledger — who have been pushing those four.
"Pretty much every guy we've got that I've seen with my own eyes, they can play in the league. Every single one," Williams said. "Everybody being able to do everything, and not just one particular thing. It's good to have competition. Me personally, I feel like it brings the best out in me."
Williams, who has played in seven career postseason games and got a Super Bowl ring with Kansas City, said he's "extremely blessed" to have had Patrick Mahomes and now Kyler Murray as the quarterbacks he's played with in his career.
"Just knowing what it takes to get there, yeah, I can bring that energy to the locker room," Williams said.
Red & White practice mania
The Cardinals on Friday announced that all of the free tickets made available online for Saturday's public practice were distributed, creating a lively atmosphere with a crowd of 18,000 fans at State Farm Stadium.
Players took the field through the corner of the end zone from which they run out on game days amid bursts of steam. Owner Michael Bidwill presented the team's four 2021 Pro Bowlers — Murray, Conner, tackle D.J. Humphries and safety Budda Baker —with framed jerseys from the NFL all-star game, and fans waved flags and cheered during practice.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey greeted players on the sideline during practice. Murray stayed long after practice to sign autographs, drawing cheers and screams from fans after jogging from one sideline across the field to the other.
Cardinals injury updates
Kingsbury had a lengthy list of Cardinals players dealing with injury, though most appear minor in nature. After saying earlier in the week that the time was taking is slow with center Rodney Hudson in training camp, Kingsbury said Hudson has been dealing with a knee injury but could be practicing as soon as Monday after the team gets Sunday off.
The team hopes to ramp up wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown next week, with Brown coming off a low-level hamstring injury and not having fully practiced in camp.
Brown took part practice Saturday but was not involved in every drill.
Cornerback Marco Wilson has a groin injury and Kingsbury hopes to get him back in practice on Monday if he can be cleared by trainers. Tight end Trey McBride is expected to return from a back injury next week, and linebacker Markus Golden is dealing with a toe injury that has caused him to miss recent practice time.
Golden watched from the sideline Saturday. Wilson and McBride did some running on the side before practice officially began.
Defensive lineman Kingsley Keke, who left Thursday's practice early, is in COVID protocol, the only player currently dealing with the virus, Kingsbury said.
Cornerback cooking
Kingsbury had at least one player wearing what looked like oven mitts in Friday's practice, to teach defensive backs in pass coverage to keep their hands off receivers in hopes of avoiding a penalty.
It wasn't new to Kingsbury, who recalled when he was in New England and defensive backs had tennis balls taped to their hands to avoid grabbing a receiver.
"We picked out the culprits that have been egregious. We just don't want to get guys hurt. We can't be grabbing jerseys and pulling guys down. We need everybody, and so just one of those deals to try to get them out of the habit of doing that," Kingsbury said. "It hadn't been this bad. Had some near injuries and we just wanted to get it cleaned up."
Wide receiver Rondale Moore said he was excited to see mitts on an opponent, recognizing that it was likely harder for the defensive player than for him.
"They’ve got five yards to do whatever they want. After that, you’ll get some tugs here and there but noting too extravagant, hopefully," Moore said.
Quick out
• Offensive line coach and run game coordinator Sean Kugler said Sean Harlow is currently the Cardinals' backup center. Harlow has seen extensive work there with the No. 1 offense, with Hudson not having practiced much. The team is trying to develop rookie sixth-round draft pick Lecitus Smith at center.
Get in touch with Jose Romero at Jose.Romero@gannett.com. Find him on Twitter at @RomeroJoseM.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals' Darrel Williams aims for key role at running back
