Cardinals activate OL Will Hernandez, elevate 2 from practice squad

The Arizona Cardinals will get a boost on the offensive line Sunday against the Denver Broncos after they activated right guard Will Hernandez from the injured reserve designated for return list on Saturday.

Hernandez has been out since Week 9 with a pectoral injury, and the Cardinals opened up his practice period on Wednesday.

The lineman has started nine games this season after signing as a free agent during the offseason.

Arizona’s offensive line has had nine different starting combinations this year due to injuries. Right tackle Kelvin Beachum had been the only starter healthy before Hernandez’s activation, as left tackle D.J. Humphries, center Rodney Hudson and left guard Justin Pugh remain on IR.

The Cardinals also announced two standard practice squad elevations on Saturday: cornerback Nate Hairston and defensive lineman Manny Jones.

Both position groups will be without starters this week, as Zach Allen (hand surgery) and Byron Murphy Jr. (back) have been ruled out.

Hairston signed with the practice squad on Sept. 21 but has not played in a game to this point.

Jones has played in one contest and received two defensive snaps and five on special teams.

Denver made a handful of moves on Saturday, activating edge rusher Randy Gregory and offensive tackle Billy Turner from injured reserve. Gregory has two sacks in four games this season, his first with Denver after five years with the Dallas Cowboys.

The Broncos also placed defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones on injured reserve and elevated quarterback Jarrett Guarantano and tailback Devine Ozigbo from the practice squad.

Guarantano was released by the Cardinals in October after spending training camp and the start of the season in Arizona.

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