Arizona Cardinals release TE Maxx Williams

Arizona Cardinals veteran tight end Maxx Williams was cut by the team Friday without a corresponding move announced.

Williams appeared in the first four games of the year but topped out at 23 snaps this past Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Williams, a blocking specialist, did not record a catch.

“Maxx is banged up right now and we’re just trying to get him to a point where he can practice and get healthier,” Cardinals general manager Steve Keim told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Friday.

“There’s nobody that we all respect and love more than Maxx. He’s a tremendous guy, a great teammate, obviously been a great part of this organization,” he added. “His whole thing is we just got to get him healthy and ready to play and get that ankle some flexibility and the knee to be able to work in a productive manner for him to get back out there on the field, so we’ll see moving forward.”

However, the GM left the door open for a possible return to the team for Williams.

“We’d like to keep him around for sure,” Keim said. “You have that opportunity with the practice squad and some other opportunities, but he’s such a quality human being. I can’t say enough good things about him.”

The departure leaves the Cardinals with three tight ends on the 53-man roster: Zach Ertz, Trey McBride and Stephen Anderson.

McBride, a rookie second-round pick, was buried on the bench during the first three games but saw a significant uptick in action this past week, playing 32 snaps (42% of those available) and making three catches for 24 yards.

“I think it’s a huge vote of confidence,” Keim said of McBride. “Obviously with Trey McBride stepping up and really coming on, I think that really put us in a position where we’re going to have to get more out of him and use him more obviously in the passing game and some of the stuff Maxx did in the run game as well.

“I think Trey has earned that right to be out there catching passes,” he added.

Ertz remains heavily involved, as he sits second on the team in receptions (22) and targets (31).

Heading into a Week 5 home game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the tight end is also third on the team with 181 receiving yards — behind receivers Marquise Brown and Greg Dortch.

Williams entered the year active but was coming off a significant knee injury suffered last season.

The 28-year-old had been with the Cardinals since 2019 and has 39 receptions for 497 yards and three touchdowns in 34 games.

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