Cardinals Safety Depth Tested as Williams Enters Protocol, Crawford Nears Return

TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals enter a critical NFC West matchup against the Los Angeles Rams with their safety room suddenly depleted, leaving defensive coordinator Nick Rallis to piece together a secondary that could be without three of its top four options.

Rookie Wydett Williams, who earned a starting role alongside All-Pro Budda Baker, suffered a concussion during Sunday’s loss to the Detroit Lions and remains in the league’s concussion protocol. Head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed Monday that Williams will not clear the protocol in time for Sunday’s 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff at SoFi Stadium.

Veteran Andrew Wingard, the primary backup, has yet to practice this week due to a lingering knee injury, leaving Baker and second-year player Dadrion Taylor-Demerson as the only healthy safeties on the active roster.

The timing is particularly challenging against a Rams offense that deploys 11 personnel — one running back, one tight end, three receivers — at among the highest rates in the league, forcing defenses to match speed with speed in the slot and deep middle. Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford has historically exploited safety-light looks, and the Cardinals’ current depth chart offers little margin for error.

Relief may arrive in the form of Kitan Crawford, the undrafted rookie from Nevada who opened the season as a core special teams contributor before suffering a high-ankle sprain in the Week 1 opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Cardinals designated Crawford for return from injured reserve Wednesday, opening his 21-day practice window. He participated in his first practice since September on Wednesday, though Gannon declined to commit to his activation for Sunday.

Under NFL rules, Crawford can be elevated to the active roster at any point during the three-week window. If not activated by the window’s close, he reverts to injured reserve for the remainder of the season. His return would restore a player who logged 17 defensive snaps and 19 special teams snaps in the opener before the injury, displaying the range and tackling ability that made him a standout in training camp.

The Cardinals’ safety situation reflects a broader trend: the position has become increasingly specialized, with teams requiring three-deep rotations to handle modern spread offenses. Arizona entered the season with four safeties they trusted — Baker, Williams, Wingard, and Crawford — and has now lost 75% of that group simultaneously.

Taylor-Demerson, a fifth-round pick in 2024, would likely see his first significant defensive action if both Williams and Wingard are unavailable. He has played exclusively on special teams through five weeks.

The Cardinals (2-3) trail the Rams (2-3) and Seattle Seahawks (3-2) in the NFC West standings, making Sunday’s divisional game a de facto must-win for playoff aspirations.