OL Will Hernandez announces his return to Arizona Cardinals

Offensive guard Will Hernandez will be returning to the Arizona Cardinals ahead of the 2025 season on a new deal, he announced on Instagram.

It’s a one-year contract, confirms Arizona Sports’ Tyler Drake.

Hernandez visited the Cardinals on Monday before signing a new contract with the team. He will begin on the PUP list, the team said.

His roster spot was opened up by the releasing of cornerback Keni-H Lovely, who was signed after Starling Thomas V went down for the season.

The Cardinals swapped between Trystan Colon-Castillo and Isaiah Adams last season at right guard due to Hernandez’s ACL injury. Adams is the favorite to get the starting role at right guard with his full-time role during training camp.

The veteran will be making his return to the Cardinals roster after being out for more than nine months.

“The plan for right now is for Isaiah being the starter at right guard and xx at left, getting Will healthy and then get him on the practice field and see where he’s at,” head coach Jonathan Gannon said.

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon on the plan at guard following the return of Will Hernandez. pic.twitter.com/QPYz6dvBOc

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) August 7, 2025

Hernandez first signed with the Cardinals as a free agent in 2022 on a one-year contract. After the season, he signed a two-year extension up until 2024.

Hernandez did not allow a sack or a quarterback hit in his 280 snaps last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

Now fully cleared, Hernandez said on his Instagram that it’s been a long process but he is ready to take the field again.

“Football got taken away from me 9 months ago, it was the hardest thing that’s ever happened to me. This has been my entire life. Many said that was it for me,” Hernandez said.

“I’m hungry being away from the game so long made me fall in love with it again! Whatever (you’re) going through right now, use me as proof that with hard work you can make anything happen.”

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