The Arizona Cardinals announced a wide range of injury news Thursday morning, starting with the status of their star rookie receiver, Marvin Harrison Jr.
Harrison remains in concussion protocol but will practice as a non-contact participant on Thursday, head coach Jonathan Gannon said. Because the Cardinals play on Monday night against the Chargers , Thursday is their first practice of the week.
“Really encouraging,” Gannon said of Harrison’s quick progress.
By contrast, tight end Trey McBride did not practice for an entire week when he sustained a concussion earlier in the season. He then returned as a limited participant in the Cardinals’ first practice of the following week and was active for that Sunday’s game against the 49ers. Following that timeline, Harrison could be trending toward playing on Monday.
Harrison sustained his concussion in the second quarter against the Packers on Sunday and did not return to the game, despite pleading with trainers on the sideline to do so.
Gannon also provided an update on right tackle Jonah Williams, who has been out since the first quarter of Week 1 with a knee injury. He said that “there’s a good chance” Williams will return this season. His status had previously been uncertain.
“He's doing extremely well,” Gannon said. “He is. He's in there with me in the morning, he gets in there early, gets his stuff done, and comes back multiple times. He's doing well. He's positive. He's making good strides right now.”
Gannon also said that there is “a chance” defensive lineman Darius Robinson could practice Thursday. The Cardinals opened Robinson’s 21-day practice window last Wednesday, but he sustained a setback to his calf injury in that first practice and did not participate for the remainder of the week. They must activate him to the 53-man roster by Oct. 30.
“He’s doing well,” Gannon said.
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Earlier in the week, the Cardinals added two more players to injured reserve: kicker Matt Prater (left knee) and defensive tackle Bilal Nichols (stinger). Gannon confirmed that Nichols is out for the season, while Prater is eligible to return in Week 12 against the Seahawks.
“(Nichols) has been having a little bit of a stinger issue so we ran a bunch of tests,” Gannon said. “And it just kinda makes sense to give him some rest here.”
With Nichols out for the season, the Cardinals are now without their top two defensive tackles, both of whom were signed to three-year deals as free agents this offseason. Justin Jones sustained a torn triceps in Week 3 against the Lions.
“It hurts,” Gannon said. “They obviously had big roles for us, two starters. But the other guys will step in and pick up the slack.”
( This story was updated to change or add a gallery. )
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals injury updates: Marvin Harrison Jr. returns to practice
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