Cardinals Still Have “High Hopes” For RB Ryan Williams

Cardinals GM Steve Keim told reporters on Thursday that they still have “high hopes” for RB Ryan Williams.

“Ryan is a tremendous talent,” Keim said. “He’s a guy who still, on the practice field, shows us the movement skills, the run ability, the change of direction is fantastic. Obviously he has had to battle injuries, which has probably been his biggest issue. 

“He’s a guy we still have hopes for. He’s still got the ability and I think Bruce (Arians) just wants him to put it all together.”

Williams was reportedly on the trading block in the weeks leading up to the NFL trade deadline last year.

Williams, 23, suffered a serious knee injury in his first season in the league and was a little apprehensive upon returning to the playing field. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract and has a base salary of 1,007,832 for the 2014 season.

It seems likely that the Cardinals move forward with Andre Ellington and Stepfan Taylor as their top-two running backs next season. Williams may have to compete for a roster spot in training camp.