Cowboys’ Quinnen Williams looks like a problem for beat-up Cardinals offensive line

TEMPE — The Arizona Cardinals are already operating with something of a skeleton crew offensive line, and another red alert came up in practice this week.

Not only is guard Jon Gaines II out on Sunday with an ankle injury, but starting center Hjalte Froholdt tweaked his knee on Thursday and was not seen during the open portion of Friday’s work. The Cardinals later ruled Froholdt questionable for Sunday’s game in Dallas.

Gaines is also the backup center, so the Cardinals face the threat of operating with a backup left tackle, third-string right guard and third-string center, who would be Hayden Conner.

The Cardinals are going up against the Cowboys on Sunday, a team not known for its defense. But four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams could prove to be a big problem up front.

The 300-pounder typically lines up in the B-gap and leads the Cowboys with three sacks, all of which he has collected in the past four games.

Williams’ nine tackles for loss lead all defensive tackles, while Houston Texans superstar edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. is the only player in the NFL with more (12).

“I’ve been with Quinnen in New York. It starts with him,” Cardinals coach and former Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said. “He can wreck a game quick, and I remember that when he was a young guy. It certainly hasn’t changed.”

Williams got off to a slow start but has been all over the place lately with five tackles for loss and three quarterback hits over his last two games.

With Williams playing alongside capable DTs in Kenny Clark and Otito Ogbonnia, the Cowboys have a distinct advantage along the interior up front despite their lack of pass rush along the edges — hence the Josh Sweat to Dallas rumors.

“I feel like I got some stuff I need to fine tune,” Williams told reporters in Dallas, saying he wanted to get back to his All-Pro form with the Jets. “Just keep going in the right direction. Hopefully I’ll have that game that I feel like I’m myself soon.”

Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett already has the fourth-fastest average time to throw in the NFL, according to Next Gen Stats, and he took hits constantly last week against the Denver Broncos.

Arizona will be challenged, especially if Froholdt is out or compromised, to prevent Williams’ breakout from continuing on Sunday.

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