Tag: Will Hernandez

OL Will Hernandez ‘would love to stay’ with Cardinals

Will Hernandez wants to return to the Cardinals in 2025 but right now knows that isn’t his decision yet.

Starting right guard Will Hernandez is one of the Arizona Cardinals’ 20 players scheduled to be unrestricted free agents in March when the new league year begins on March 12. He has played the last three seasons for the Cardinals but had his 2024 season end after only five games when he suffered a season-ending knee injury that later was revealed as a torn ACL.

While he was perhaps the Cardinals’ best lineman over the last three years, he is coming off the injury and will be 30 years old when the 2025 season begins, so it is uncertain whether the team will want to re-sign him, especially when he isn’t healthy yet.

He made it clear that he would like to return.

Speaking with PHNX’s Bo Brack in New Orleans during Super Bowl week, Hernandez spoke about both his desire to come back but also his understanding that it isn’t something he is focused on right now.

“Of course I would love to stay where I’m at, where I already built those relationships, where I already know what each person brings to the table,” he told Brack. “I’m a very loyal kind of dog. Once I connect with someone, once I play in the trenches with these guys, I’m attached.

“I would definitely love to stay, but at the end of the day, it isn’t up to me. I can’t make these decisions, and if it happens where I can or I can’t, we’ll go off that and we’ll see what the next step is. I haven’t even thought about it.”

There is one thing on his mind currently.

“The only thing I think about is getting this knee back to 100%, which is exactly what is happening.”

The Cardinals have until March 10 to negotiate with Hernandez before he can begin talking to other teams.

We will see if the Cardinals plan on bringing him back again soon enough!

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Free Agency: Targets Cowboys could reunite with their new OC to strengthen offense

Free agency follows the hiring of coaches and Dallas’ newest assistant could bring any number of offensive linemen with him.

One of the oldest tenets of the NFL, at least since the early 1990s, is that new coaches like to steal from their old teams when they relocate. One needs to look no further than Dan Quinn pilfering Tyler Biadasz, Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler and Noah Igbinoghene from the Dallas Cowboys once he became Washington’s head coach.

With Brian Schottenheimer moving up from offensive coordinator to head coach from within the organization, there isn’t any opportunity there, but his new offensive coordinator could assist in that regard. Klayton Adams has been named the Cowboys’ newest assistant, and he spent the last two seasons as the Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach under Jonathan Gannon.

With that, the gaze immediately turns to the Cardinals list of 2025 free agents, and it just so happens that several of their offensive linemen are free agents. Three of those are of particular interest to Dallas.

First and foremost is Kelvin Beachum. The 13-year veteran is still going strong at 36-years old, grading at a 75.4 (out of 100) in pass protection according to Pro Football Focus. In fact, Beachum has graded out green or better (green and blue are the positive ranges) every season since his rookie campaign in 2012.

With Dallas having to give serious consideration to replacing Terence Steele this offseason, Beachum may be the perfect bridge player. In fact, two of his three highest-graded games were as the starter at left tackle. At minimum, Beachum should be an immediate addition as the club’s swing tackle, and then Dallas can consider things from there.

Also to be considered is Evan Brown. The 29-year old was the Cardinals starter at left guard, playing over 97% of the team’s offensive snaps in 2024.

Brown graded out as a 73.5 in pass protection, allowing two sacks on the year. Brown is a journeyman, former UDFA who began seeing consistent starter minutes in 2021 with Detroit, while also playing in Seattle before joining Arizona in 2023. This was his first full season playing left guard, lining up at center in 2021 and 2023, and right guard in 2022.

That brings up Will Hernandez. Hernandez was always associated with Dallas during the 2018 draft, as a UTEP product who was caught working out with several of the team’s linemen throughout the process.

Hernandez played in just five games this season before suffering a severe knee injury. The team never detailed what kind, but it’s believed to have been an MCL, not an ACL. If so, his recovery for 2025 could be to the point he could pass a physical in March.

Henderson was a second-round pick of the New York Giants, No. 34 overall, who has had an up-and-down career. 2024 was the best ball of his career prior to the injury, and he has spent the last four seasons at right guard after his first three at left guard.

The Cowboys could be in the market for a right guard with Zack Martin headed to free agency and also contemplating retirement.

The Cardinals options don’t end with Hernandez, as the player who replaced him in the starting lineup — Trystan Colon —is also set to hit free agency.

With four options, all with starting history, it would probably be more of a shock if one or more didn’t end up in Dallas to join Adams.

Baron Browning headlines 3 Cardinals in top 100 free agents for 2025

Check out which three Cardinals free agents are among the top 100 available, according to PFF.

The Arizona Cardinals have 20 players scheduled to be unrestricted free agents at the beginning of the new league year in March. Three of them are considered to be among the top free agents available.

PFF put together a list of the top 100 free agents for 2025. Three Cardinals players make the cut, although one you might expect to be there is not.

No. 39: OLB Baron Browning

The top Cardinals free agent is Browning, whom they acquired from the Denver Broncos before the trade deadline. Browning had two sacks in eight games while with the Cardinals but has shown some promise.

Browning’s 14.2% pressure rate over the 2022-23 seasons ranked 24th among edge defenders, and he converted from off-ball linebacker to a full-time edge rusher in 2022. Injuries are the only thing keeping Browning from being a consistent problem off the edge for opposing offenses.

No. 72: OLB Dennis Gardeck

Gardeck suffered a torn ACL and only played in only seven games, logging three sacks, which led the team at the time. He led the Cardinals with six sacks in 2023. He has proven that he can play every down and has been an impact special teams player his entire career. He is now 30 years old.

No. 93: OL Will Hernandez

Hernandez is another coming off a torn ACL. He will be 30 when next season begins.

 The former second-round pick offers a high floor as a pass protector on the interior. 

Hernandez is a great run blocker and solid in pass protection, and he will add a little nastiness to any offensive line.

Not included: LB Kyzir White

White does not crack the top 100 despite having what was a Pro Bowl-cailber season in 2023 before he tore his biceps, ending his season. He had 137 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season, so his production certainly didn’t fall off.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Cardinals make O-line change on roster

Check out who replaces guard Will Hernandez on the active roster after he is placed on injured reserve.

The Arizona Cardinals made a pair of roster moves to address the offensive line. They placed Will Hernandez on injured reserve and signed tackle Charlie Heck from the practice squad to the active roster.

Hernandez suffered a season-ending knee injury on Sunday in the team’s 24-23 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

Heck played in the last three games but after being elevated from the practice squad. He was out of standard elevations. The Cardinals did not have a backup tackle on the roster so Heck was a logical choice to sign.

With Hernandez placed on injured reserve, Trystan Colon now replaces him in the starting lineup. Heck, Jon Gaines II and rookie Isaiah Adams are the three backup linemen on the roster. Rookie tackle Christian Jones will be activated to the 53-man roster off injured reserve within the next two weeks.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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Who will replace the injured Will Hernandez at right guard for the Cardinals?

A look at what could be coming at right guard and what Jonathan Gannon said about it.

The loss of Arizona Cardinals right guard Will Hernandez for the season because of a knee injury suffered in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win over the 49ers will obviously lead to a new starter taking the field for Sunday’s game against the Packers in Green Bay.

Prior to Sunday, Hernandez had played every offensive snap this season.

So, who will be the “next man up?”

Trystan Colon replaced Hernandez against the 49ers and is likely the leader in the clubhouse.

“I thought he did some good things, I really did,” head coach Jonathan Gannon said of Colon on Monday. “He’s played a lot of ball for us, so I feel really good about him going in the game and playing.”

Asked about second-year man Jon Gaines II, who was active for the first time in his career against the 49ers with rookie guard Isaiah Adams inactive because of a thumb injury, possibly being in the mix, Gannon said, “We’ll see. Everyone will get reps in there and they all got to be ready to go. If you got a jersey on game day, you got to be ready to play. So those interior spots, we got multiple guys that can fill that role.

“Certain guys can play left and right, so we’ll find the best combination and those guys with their role changing now because of Will, will maximize their opportunity.”

Handling a lot of that will be line coach Klayton Adams. Said Gannon, “Klayton does a good job of mixing and matching those guys in practice. That’s how we do things anyhow. We’ll get the right blend and the right mix in there and they’ll be comfortable playing with each other and the communication piece is obviously very important with those guys. But we’ll be on point.

“The guys that we got, we feel good about and we’ll get the right lineup in there and go to work.”

Still, Gannon couldn’t sugarcoat the loss of Hernandez the day after the victory over the 49ers.

“He was playing really good ball for us,” Gannon said, and most important, added, “He’s an integral part to our toughness and our attitude and doing things the right way. Practicing the right way. Playing the right way. It’s a tough one to lose.

“But he’ll recover from it. He’ll get back and he’ll be back saddled up again. I’m sure of that, knowing him.”

The question is when and where.

Dr. David Chao (siscore.com/@ProFootballDoc on X) believes Hernandez has a significant MCL injury with possible ACL involvement and his current contract expires next March, meaning he’ll likely be rehabbing when free agency begins five months from now on March 12.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

OL Will Hernandez to miss rest of season with knee injury

The Cardinals lose Will Hernandez for the rest of season.

The Arizona Cardinals have suffered another blow to the offensive line. After losing starting right tackle Jonah Williams to a knee injury, perhaps for entire season, they now must replace their starting right guard.

Will Hernandez will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa rolled up on Hernandez’ leg in the second half of the Cardinals’ 24-23 win and he had to leave the game.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported the injury was season-ending and head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed that Hernandez would be placed on injured reserve and be out the rest of the season.

Hernandez was in the final year of his contract and playing well.

Now the Cardinals will have to play with backups at both right guard and right tackle for the foreseeable future.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

76 days till the Cardinals’ season opener against the Bills

Guard Will Hernandez has been a pretty impactful No. 76 for the last two years for the Cardinals.

As we start another week in June, we are 76 days away from the Arizona Cardinals’ first regular-season game on the road against the Buffalo Bills on September 8.

The Cardinals’ current No. 76 is a pretty good one.

It is starting right guard Will Hernandez.

He has been an impactful No. 76.

He has started 30 games over the last two seasons for them. He signed a one-year deal in 2022 and re-signed on a two-year contract last offseason. He is the unquestioned starter at right guard and, of the starters, is the meanest of the offensive line group.

He is physical and has perhaps been their most consistent lineman over the last two seasons.

The last two Cardinals players to wear No. 76 — Hernandez and guard Mike Iupati — both are cut from the same cloth. They are big and physical.

Just 76 days until the Cardinals’ regular season.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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James Conner, Will Hernandez got 2024 roster bonuses

Conner was due $1.5 million and Will Hernandez $500,000 on March 18.

The Arizona Cardinals have been busy in the offseason working in free agency, re-signing players who were on the team last season and adding new ones in free agency.

Two Cardinals players already under contract got bonuses.

Running back James Conner and starting right guard Will Hernandez each received roster bonuses as part of their contracts.

Both are entering the final year of their contracts and often teams use a roster bonus to make a decision about keeping a player on the roster moving forward, extending him or moving on.

The league year began March 13. Conner was due a $1.5 million roster bonus on March 18. Hernandez was due a $500,000 roster bonus on the same date.

Conner is due a salary of $4.235 million in 2024 and up to $255,000 in per-game roster bonuses.

Hernandez’ 2024 salary is $3.15 million and can make up to $425,000 in per-game roster bonuses.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

Players, matchups to watch for Cardinals vs. Ravens

Some players and matchups to watch in the Cardinals’ Week 8 battle against the Ravens.

The Arizona Cardinals face the Baltimore Ravens Sunday hoping to end a four-game losing streak.

To do that, they will need some solid play from several players and in several matchups.

What players and matchups do we need to watch in the game?

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

Cardinals inactives: Will Hernandez, Josh Woods to play vs. Bengals

Will Hernandez, questionable to play, was good to go in Week 5. Josh Woods returned to the lineup after missing three games.

The Arizona Cardinals got a little healthier in Week 5. Linebacker Josh Woods, out of the lineup since Week 1 with an ankle injury, returned and was active against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Offensive lineman Will Hernandez, who was questionable for the game after missing some practice time with a back injury, also was good to go. Both players were active.

The Cardinals’ inactive players were no surprise:

Arizona Cardinals Week 5 inactive list

  • S Quantrezz Knight
  • RB Keaontay Ingram
  • OL Carter O’Donnell
  • TE Elijah Higgins
  • DL Jonathan Ledbetter

Knight, O’Donnell and Higgins were healthy scratches. O’Donnell and Higgins had not been active yet this season. Ledbetter missed his second straight game with a finger injury.

Ingram missed for the second straight game with a neck problem. Corey Clement was elevated to the active roster to replace him. Ben Stille was elevated to play on the defensive line with Ledbetter out.

Cornerback Starling Thomas was active for the first time this season.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.