TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals got some major news on Monday: Offensive lineman Will Hernandez will be placed on injured reserve and miss the rest of the season.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon announced the news during his press conference on Monday saying that there is "no chance" that Hernandez could return this season.
"Will was playing well, he was playing really good ball for us," Gannon said. "He's an integral part to our toughness and our attitude and doing things the right way. Practicing the right way, playing the right way. It's a tough one to lose, but he'll recover from it and he'll get back and he'll be back saddled up again, I'm sure of that, knowing him."
Gannon said he is confident in the rest of the Cardinals' offensive linemen and said that he believes they will be able to find a lineup that makes up for Hernandez's absence for the rest of the year.
Gannon did not say who would slide into Hernandez's spot at right guard and that "everyone will get reps" as they look for a replacement.
Hernandez is in his third season with the Cardinals after signing with the team as a free agent before the 2022 season. He played his first four NFL seasons with the New York Giants.
The 29-year-old had started all five games for the Cardinals in 2024 and will be a free agent at the end of this season.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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