RB Williams suffers flare-up in right knee

Ryan Williams did not practice Monday after a flare-up in his right knee — the same knee which forced him to sit out the 2011 season.

A disappointed coach Bruce Arians delivered the update during Monday’s press conference. Williams will get a second opinion on his knee to make sure there isn’t more damage, but Arians said the MRI was clean.

When Arians was asked if this was a make-or-break year for Williams, he replied: “I would think so.”

Before Williams was sidelined, Arians liked what he saw.

“He’s been doing extremely well,” Arians said. “He looked fantastic, and I was kind of surprised it flared up.”

Williams showed off his agility making a cut to turn what was a loss into a long gain on Sunday. It was a highlight-reel play from a guy who the Cardinals expect to make them. Williams said that play in particular showed his unique skill set.

“If a play is broken up, I can find my way out of it,” Williams said. “That's what they brought mein to do and what I'm known to do.”

After he couldn’t push off the right leg, he decided it was time to stop, according to Arians. While Williams is used to having to come back from injury — he went down with a shoulder injury in October 2012 — it’s still disappointing for the former secondround pick.

“It’s not scary; it just sucks,” Williams said. “I’ve worked hard to get to the point where I don’t have incidents like this, but I do, and that’s part of the game.”

This is Williams’ third year with the Cardinals, and he wasexpected to be a darkhorse candidate for the starting job. Recently acquired Rashard Mendenhall seemingly slides into the starting role. However, with Williams out, the battle between Alfonso Smith and Stepfan Taylor will decide who gets No. 2 reps for the time being. Arians said he has been impressed with how the position has come along in the first couple of practices.

“I love both young guys,” Arians said. “Alfonso stepped up in the backs on (linebackers) and really showed how tough he was yesterday. That’s a major part of playing running back is protecting the quarterback.”