Jonah Williams‘ Cardinals debut was cut short after only 22 snaps due to an injury. The Cardinals will need to adjust early in the season as a result.

According to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, the former first-round pick will be sidelined due to a knee injury sustained in Buffalo. The duration of his absence is still being evaluated, but it seems likely he will be out for multiple weeks.

Although Williams missed his entire rookie season due to a shoulder injury, he has been able to play a full 16 games in each of the last three seasons. However, his time with the Bengals included a stint on injured reserve in 2020 due to a knee issue, causing him to miss six games. While it’s uncertain if his current injury will lead to a similar absence, if he is placed on IR, he cannot return until at least Week 6.

Williams signed a two-year, $30MM deal with the Cardinals in free agency. Despite initial reluctance to switch to right tackle while with the Bengals, he ultimately complied with the team’s request in light of Orlando Brown Jr.’s signing. Arizona then moved Paris Johnson Jr. from right to left tackle.

As the only Cardinals offensive lineman with a contract exceeding $6MM per year, Williams was expected to provide veteran support in Jonathan Gannon’s second season. Although this plan is now on hold due to his injury, Kelvin Beachum stepped in to replace him during the Bills game. Beachum, a veteran swingman, has been with the Cardinals since 2020 and offers a reliable option as a temporary replacement.

Beachum struggled against Von Miller but remains a seasoned player compared to many backups. With D.J. Humphries no longer on the roster, Beachum is Arizona’s most experienced offensive lineman, boasting 149 NFL starts and holding a two-year, $5.15MM contract.