Arizona Cardinals lose right guard Will Hernandez for season with knee injury

Arizona Cardinals right guard Will Hernandez is out for the season with a knee injury, head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed Monday.

The injury is a brutal blow for an offensive line that was already without right tackle Jonah Williams, now leaving a pair of backups on the right side. Hernandez had not been charged with allowing a sack all season and he had not allowed a single pressure over his final two games, per Pro Football Focus.

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

Hernandez’s injury occurred on the Cardinals’ penultimate drive on Sunday, when 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa rolled up on his knee at an awkward angle. After the injury, Trystan Colon replaced Hernandez and helped the run game stay on track as the Cardinals drove for their game-winning field goal .

With Hernandez out, the Cardinals could also turn to 2023 fourth-round pick Jon Gaines II or 2024 third-round pick Isaiah Adams. Gaines has not played any offensive snaps this year, while Adams played six snaps late in a Week 2 blowout over the Rams.

“Everyone will get reps in there,” Gannon said. “And they've all gotta be ready to go. If you've got a jersey on gameday, you've gotta be ready to play. So those interior spots, you've got multiple guys that can fill that role.”

If the Cardinals do not want two backups on the right side of the offensive line, they could slide left guard Evan Brown to right guard, keeping a starter on that side and opening a hole between Paris Johnson Jr. and Hjalte Froholdt on the left side.

In other injury news, Gannon said that the Cardinals will open the practice window for first-round defensive lineman Darius Robinson, who has not yet played this season with a calf injury. The Cardinals must add Robinson to their 53-man roster within 21 days.

Wide receiver Zay Jones will also return to practice this week after a five-week suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. He does not have to be added to the 53-man roster this week, but must be added before the Cardinals’ Week 7 game against the Chargers.

Gannon did not provide an update on kicker Matt Prater in Monday’s news conference. Prater missed Sunday’s game with a left knee injury. In his place, the Cardinals started Chad Ryland, who made three field goals but had a 45-yard attempt blocked and returned for a touchdown.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals lose right guard Will Hernandez for season with knee injury