The Saints released Williams on Tuesday.
Williams dealt with a groin injury last week but was let go without an injury designation Tuesday, so he appears to have moved past the issue. He'll now attempt to find another opportunity ahead of the 2023 campaign.
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Saints' Darrel Williams: Leaves practice
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Williams left Tuesday's practice early with a groin injury, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Williams signed with the Saints on Aug. 14 as a depth piece for a Saints' backfield that, at the time, was dealing with multiple injuries. He rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries in six games last season with the Cardinals before being placed on the team's injured reserve list in November with a hip injury. Williams is aiming to crack the Saints' final roster as a depth piece behind running backs Alvin Kamara, Jamaal Williams and Kendre Miller.
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Saints' Darrel Williams: Headed to New Orleans
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Williams signed a contract with the Saints on Monday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Williams had his season end early in 2022 after suffering a hip injury while with the Cardinals. Now, he'll come to New Orleans and provide some depth to a backfield that is dealing with multiple injuries. With Alvin Kamara (suspension) set to miss the first three weeks, along with Kendre Miller (knee) and Kirk Merritt (hamstring) currently ailing -- not to mention Eno Benjamin (Achilles) already going on IR -- it's been a rough camp for Saints running backs. Williams at least will provide some veteran depth during practice, while he'll aim to make the team's final roster.
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Cardinals' Darrel Williams: Heading to injured reserve
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The Cardinals placed Williams (hip) on injured reserve Wednesday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Williams ended a two-game absence Week 8 at Minnesota and played 30 percent of the offensive snaps en route to seven touches for 14 total yards while working behind Eno Benjamin with James Conner (ribs) still sidelined. Per Urban, Williams was spotted on crutches after Sunday's contest and now will have to miss at least Arizona's next four games, meaning his next potential appearance is Dec. 12 against the Patriots. During Williams' time on IR, Benjamin, rookie sixth-round pick Keaontay Ingram and -- when healthy -- Conner will man the team's backfield.
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Cardinals' Darrel Williams: Tending to hip injury
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Williams didn't practice Wednesday due to a hip injury, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Williams put an end to a two-game absence this past Sunday in Minnesota, earning 30 percent of the offensive snaps and turning seven touches into 14 yards from scrimmage. In the wake of that appearance, however, a knee issue has been replaced by another health concern as the reason for his lack of activity at practice. Meanwhile, James Conner (ribs), who has missed the last three contests, was limited Wednesday, so he may be the better bet to be a part of the Cardinals backfield along with Eno Benjamin this Sunday against the Seahawks.
Williams turned five carries into eight yards and two catches on three targets for six yards during Sunday's 34-26 loss in Minnesota.
In his return from a two-game absence due to a knee injury, Williams served as the Cardinals' No. 2 running back behind Eno Benjamin with James Conner (ribs) again sidelined. However, Williams' snap share (27 percent) and touch count (seven) paled in comparison to Benjamin's marks (74 percent and 13). There's a chance Conner returns to action as soon as Sunday against the Seahawks, which could mean Williams sees few to no opportunities.
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Cardinals' Darrel Williams: Returning to action Sunday
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Williams (knee) is listed as active Sunday at Minnesota, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
While Williams is putting an end to a two-game absence, the Arizona's No. 1 running back James Conner (ribs) is not, setting the stage for the former to get some work out of the backfield. That said, Williams may play second fiddle to Eno Benjamin, who has notched 34 touches for 178 yards from scrimmage and one rushing TD the last two contests. As the healthier option, Benjamin again may be the team's main back, but Williams is a decent bet to get some short-yardage work.
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Cardinals' Darrel Williams: Another limited showing
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Williams (knee) practiced on a limited basis Thursday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Williams and No. 1 running back James Conner (ribs) are attempting to put an end to two-game absences due to their respective injuries. After both managed a pair of capped sessions so far this week, Arizona's backfield is drawing closer to some normalcy. Ultimately, Friday's practice report could reveal if one or both of Conner and Williams are able to join Eno Benjamin at the position Sunday in Minnesota. If all three are active, though, Williams seemingly would be relegated to the No. 3 spot behind Conner and Benjamin.
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Cardinals' Darrel Williams: Limited Wednesday
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Williams (knee) was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Along with Williams, No. 1 running back James Conner (ribs) also returned to practice as a limited participant, indicating the position group is getting close to being back to full strength. An active Conner on Sunday in Minnesota likely would be Arizona's lead runner, but he could yield reps to Williams (if active) and Eno Benjamin. In five appearances this season, Williams averaged 5.9 yards per carry on his 16 rushes while scoring one touchdown.
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Cardinals' Darrel Williams: Won't be available Thursday
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Williams (knee) was ruled out for Thursday's contest against the Saints, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Williams will miss a second game in a row due to a knee injury, but James Conner (ribs) may be able to avoid that fate, according to head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who told Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com on Wednesday that the second back is a game-time decision. Whether or not an active Conner would lead the backfield remains to be seen, but if he's limited or out Thursday, Eno Benjamin (foot) is line to handle much of the backfield reps after ending Week 7 prep with a full practice.
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Cardinals' Darrel Williams: Still not practicing Tuesday
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Williams (knee) did not participate at practice Tuesday ahead of Thursday's game versus New Orleans, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Williams sustained a sprained knee in Week 5, and it looks increasingly likely that injury will hold him out for a second consecutive week. With James Connor (ribs) also a non-participant at Tuesday's practice, things are shaping up for Eno Benjamin (foot) to work as Arizona's lead back once again Thursday night.
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Cardinals' Darrel Williams: DNP on estimated report
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Williams (knee) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's estimated injury report, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Williams suffered a sprained knee during the team's Week 5 loss to Philadelphia and was sidelind for Week 6, along with starting running back James Conner (ribs). Both backs were listed as non-participants Monday, while Eno Benjamin, who took over as the primary running back against Seattle, was listed as limited due to a foot injury. Per Urban, coach Kliff Kingsbury said Monday that Williams is unlikely to play Thursday against the Saints, while Conner is day-to-day.
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Cardinals' Darrel Williams: Sitting out another practice
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Williams (knee) wasn't spotted on the practice field Thursday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Williams is absent from practice from the second day in a row and looks on track to sit out Sunday's game in Seattle, as Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Wednesday. Meanwhile, No. 1 back James Conner (ribs) is also sitting out Thursday's practice, while depth back Jonathan Ward (hamstring) was moved to injured reserve Wednesday. The lack of healthy options within the position group seemingly sets up Eno Benjamin to handle a sizable role this weekend if Conner is limited or out.
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Cardinals' Darrel Williams: Unlikely to play in Week 6
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Williams sprained his knee in the Cardinals' Week 5 loss to Philadelphia and isn't expected to play Sunday in Seattle, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
With Williams and James Conner (ribs) both exiting early in Week 5, Eno Benjamin saw his most extensive NFL action to date out of the backfield, playing 54 percent of the offensive snaps while accounting for 53 yards and a touchdown on 11 touches. The Cardinals signed both Corey Clement and Ty'Son Williams to their practice squad, adding additional depth to their banged-up backfield. Expect at least one to be promoted to the 53-man roster before Sunday, with Williams set to miss the contest and Conner's status for the Week 6 game still uncertain.
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Cardinals' Darrel Williams: Picks up knee injury Sunday
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Williams left Sunday's game due to a knee injury, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
In the waning moments of the third quarter, Williams was evaluated by team trainers on the sideline before walking to the locker room. This marks three Cardinals running back that got hurt Sunday after James Conner exited earlier with a rib concern and Jonathan Ward suffered a hamstring injury shortly after Williams. If Conner, Williams and Ward are unable to reenter the contest, Eno Benjamin will handle most of the work out of the backfield, as rookie sixth-round pick Keaontay Ingram was inactive again.
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Cardinals' Darrel Williams: Earns four touches Sunday
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Williams had four carries for 19 yards and couldn't gather in his only target during Sunday's 26-16 win at Carolina.
Williams actually received the first touch among Cardinals running backs Week 4, but he logged the second-most offensive snaps (16 of 76) behind James Conner (50) and ahead of Eno Benjamin (11), while finishing third in touches behind Conner's 18 and Benjamin's six. As such, Williams still seems like the 2B option at best in the team's backfield, which doesn't give him much utility without an absence from one of Conner or Benjamin.
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Cardinals' Darrel Williams: Just one touch in Week 3
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Williams had one carry for seven yards and didn't haul in his only target during Sunday's 20-12 loss to the Rams.
In the wake of James Conner hurting his ankle in Week 2, there was a belief Williams would be the beneficiary if the former was limited or out in Week 3. Conner ended up playing his typical 60 percent of the offensive snaps, however, en route to 16 touches for 57 yards, while Williams logged 17 percent (and one touch) and Eno Benjamin managed 27 percent (and seven touches for 23 yards). There has been no word of an aggravation of Conner's injury, so Williams appears as though he'll be in a depth role once again Sunday in Carolina.
As of now we don't expect James Conner to play in Week 3 and we expect Williams to lead the backfield without him. But there's a low degree of confidence in both, so don't make a huge splash in terms of FAB. Williams should handle a majority of the short-yardage work, which gives him a slight edge, but this is a bad matchup and it will be a committee.
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Cardinals' Darrel Williams: Week 3 Waiver Priority List
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Darrel Williams and Eno Benjamin (24 percent rostered) could be called upon to play a bigger role for the Cardinals with Conner banged up, although NFL Network reported Monday that Conner's injury isn't considered serious. However, if Conner is out for Week 3 against the Rams, then Williams and Benjamin could both be flex options in the majority of leagues. I'll give the nod to Williams as the better Fantasy option based on what happened against the Raiders in Week 2 when Conner was hurt. While both had eight carries, Williams finished with 59 yards and a touchdown, compared to 31 yards for Benjamin. It was Benjamin who did more in the passing game with three catches for 20 yards on four targets, while Williams had two catches for 3 yards on three targets. Neither one feels like a safe option against the Rams, but Williams would likely have the better chance to score. He's worth up to 10 percent of your remaining FAB budget, while Benjamin is worth 5-10 percent.
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Cardinals' Darrel Williams: First touches with new team
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Williams had eight carries for 59 yards and one touchdown while hauling in two of three targets for three yards during Sunday's 29-23 overtime win at Las Vegas.
One week removed from being contained to 15 special-teams snaps in his first action as a Cardinal, Williams was the third of the team's running backs to earn touches during this Week 2 contest behind James Conner and Eno Benjamin. Additional opportunity opened up in the second half when Conner left with an ankle injury, allowing Williams to lead the backfield in offensive snaps (40 of 87) and yards from scrimmage (62). Conner's issue isn't believed to be a long-term one, but Williams may be in line for more work in the short term if the former is limited or forced to miss any game action.
