Will Hernandez was having a good season for the Cardinals, important on a personal level with his contract running out and because he was a crucial cog in making the team’s rough-and-tumble run offense go.
Now, the Cardinals have to find a way to make due without him.
Hernandez suffered a season-ending knee injury against the 49ers on Sunday, coach Jonathan Gannon said Monday. Hernandez had his leg rolled up on from behind by 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, who slipped off of a tackle attempt of running back James Conner and slammed into Hernandez’s left leg.
“Will was playing really well,” Gannon said. “He was playing really good ball for us. He was an integral part of our toughness and our attitude. Doing things the right way, practicing the right way. It’s a tough one to lose. But he’ll recover from it, and he’ll be back saddled up again. I’m sure of that.
“The guys we’ve got, we feel good about. We’ll get the right lineup in there and go to work.”
The Cardinals have already been without starting right tackle Jonah Williams, who hurt his knee on the final play of the first quarter in the first game of the season. The possibility of his return remains in question. Kelvin Beachum has replaced Williams in the lineup.
Replacing Hernandez, who has been excellent, has less of a ready-made fill-in. Veteran Trystan Colon came in to the 49ers game and is the likely new guard. But rookie Isaiah Adams, who was already out on Sunday with a thumb injury, could be an option.
