The Arizona Cardinals have taken a significant hit with starting right tackle Jonah Williams being placed on injured reserve. Stepping into his role is veteran Kelvin Beachum, a seasoned presence on the offensive line, who played 39 snaps to finish out Week 1.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon expressed confidence in Beachum’s ability to fill the void. “There’s a comfort level with Beach being the vet that he is and how many games he’s played,” Gannon said on Wednesday. “Whoever’s in there, we feel good about getting the job done.”
Beachum, who started 48 games for the Cardinals between 2020 and 2022, has primarily played at right tackle. Though he transitioned to a reserve role in 2023, appearing in 11 games (with two starts), he now finds himself back in the starting lineup.
“It hurts anytime one of your starting offensive linemen goes down,” quarterback Kyler Murray noted. “But I’ve been around [Beachum] for quite some time, so I’m very comfortable with him stepping in.”
Beachum, typically rated higher for his pass protection than run blocking, struggled on Sunday, allowing two sacks on four pressures. However, tight end Trey McBride emphasized that little changes with Beachum in the lineup. “The calls are the same, everything’s the same. It’s just a different person in there.”
To bolster their depth, the Cardinals have added options from the practice squad. Jackson Barton, who played in one game for Arizona last year, and Luke Tenuta, who saw action in three games with the Green Bay Packers in 2022, provide additional cover. On Wednesday, the Cardinals also signed Charlie Heck, a right tackle with 41 games of experience with the Houston Texans, to the practice squad.
“We feel good about the plan moving forward,” Gannon said, maintaining optimism despite the setback.
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