ARIZONA CARDINALS

Kerwynn Williams plays through pain and brings stability to the offense

Dec 11, 2017, 11:27 AM | Updated: 5:43 pm

(AP Photo/Ron Schwane)...

(AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

(AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

LISTEN: Kerwynn Williams, Arizona Cardinals Running Back

Playing for an offense that could not find the end zone on Sunday, Kerwynn Williams provided a bright spot in the Cardinals’ backfield and helped propel the team to its sixth win of the season, beating the Titans 12-7.

Williams racked up 73 yards rushing on 20 carries to lead a determined charge by the Cardinals to protect their home turf, moving them to 4-3 at University of Phoenix Stadium this season.

Taking on a heavier workload means taking more hits and he has been doing it despite playing through two cracked ribs.

“They are doing OK, not quite barbecued,” Williams joked with Doug & Wolf Monday morning on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

Despite the pain, Williams knows where he needs to draw the line as to whether or not he can compete.

“I don’t do shots or pills, I’m not really into that. I feel like it hides what’s really going on and you are really making things worse. I feel like if you have to do that then you shouldn’t really be playing,” Williams said.

“I go through all that to get the last result on Sunday. So when I get that, that makes it all worth it,” said the running back.

Backfield carousel

The Cardinals’ offense has gone through three starting quarterbacks and now four starting running backs in the 2017 season.

With injuries to running backs David Johnson and Adrian Peterson, and after the release of backups Chris Johnson and Andre Ellington, Williams was moved to the starting spot in week 13 against the Rams and has averaged 4.72 yards per carry on 18 rush attempts per game.

Even though he didn’t find the end zone in either game, the five-year veteran has stabilized the Cardinals’ backfield for the time being.

Williams is only seven yards away from his career high in rushing yards for a season and with two more rushing touchdown he will set a new career high in that category as well.

He is 216 yards shy of eclipsing 1,000 yards for his career. With games left against the Redskins and the Giants, who both rank in the bottom 10 rush defense, Williams has a reasonable shot to get to that number.

Inner competitivness

Williams was asked many questions about his confidance level and the overall team in general.

“My confidence in myself is supreme,” said Williams. “Once you lose that confidence in yourself you stop being the same player you are.”

Part of finding that confidence and competitiveness stems from talking trash.

“I like to get my trash talk in when I can,” Williams said. “I feel like that’s your inner competitiveness coming out. I really think the trash talk gets me into the game, it gets me more focused and more in tune with whats going on.”

“I was getting into it with (Titans saftey Johnathan) Cyprien (Sunday), he’s definitely the biggest trash talker on their defense,” Williams said.

Presented By
Western Governors University
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Barkley, right, smiles as he wears a costume and poses for a picture for Cardinals quarterback Blaine Gabbert, left, prior to an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans after Barkley lost a quarterback challenge in practice, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec.10, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Tennessee Titans linebacker Nate Palmer (50) raises a fist during the playing of the national anthem as teammate Avery Williamson (54) stands next to Palmer prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec.10, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Blaine Gabbert warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Blaine Gabbert throws a pass against the Tennessee Titans during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec.10, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) runs with the ball against the Tennessee Titans after making a catch during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec.10, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones (55) celebrates a tackle against the Tennessee Titans with inside linebacker Kareem Martin (96) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec.10, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones (55) makes a tackle against Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec.10, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Olsen Pierre (72) sacks Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, left, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec.10, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Tennessee Titans wide receiver Eric Decker, right, makes a catch in front of Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Arizona Cardinals running back T.J. Logan (22) scores a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) fails to stop the run during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec.10, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Blaine Gabbert, right, is pulled down by Tennessee Titans defensive end David King (95) as Titans defensive end Jurrell Casey, left, closes in during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Tennessee Titans linebacker Nate Palmer (50) celebrates a defensive stop against Arizona Cardinals running back D.J. Foster (37) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) An Arizona Cardinals fan cheers for his team during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) runs past Arizona Cardinals nose tackle Xavier Williams (94) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, left, runs with the football after making a catch as Tennessee Titans cornerback Adoree' Jackson (25) tries to make the tackle and Titans linebacker Jayon Brown (55) closes in during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Blaine Gabbert, left, is brought down by Tennessee Titans linebacker Erik Walden (93) as Cardinals offensive tackle John Wetzel (73) looks on during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tramon Williams (25) breaks up a pass intended for Tennessee Titans wide receiver Corey Davis (84) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec.10, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals

Monti Ossenfort helps out during practice...

Tyler Drake

2024 NFL Draft order: Cardinals enter bye week in possession of No. 3 pick

The Cardinals enter the bye with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. A look at Arizona's road ahead and the draft implications it brings.

16 hours ago

Caleb Williams, USC Trojans quarterback vs. Arizona State...

Associated Press

Caleb Williams won’t play for USC in Holiday Bowl, fueling NFL Draft expectations

Quarterback Caleb Williams will not play for the USC Trojans in the Holiday Bowl, fueling the expectation he will enter the NFL Draft.

18 hours ago

Presented By...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Bickley Blast: Optimism higher for Kyler Murray’s future with Cardinals after win over Steelers

Video: Felisa Cárdenas and Jeremy Schnell/Arizona Sports Photo: Joe Sargent/Getty Images Presented By

21 hours ago

Kyler Murray throws a pass in Week 13...

Dan Bickley

Bickley: Kyler Murray, Cardinals show clear progress in upset win over Steelers

Over 36 seasons in the Valley, the Cardinals have been inept and sometimes elite. They've rarely been more professional than they were Sunday.

2 days ago

James Conner celebrates TD...

Arizona Sports

Rapid reactions: Cardinals stun Steelers in dominant Week 13 win

Arizona Sports' hosts, editors and reporters break down what they saw in the Cardinals' third win of the year.

2 days ago

James Conner runs the rock...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals fight through weather delays, Steelers for upset win in Week 13

Despite weather delays and a playoff-caliber Steelers team, it was the Cardinals that walked out of Pittsburgh with the win.

2 days ago

Kerwynn Williams plays through pain and brings stability to the offense