Kerwynn Williams corredor de Cardenales encontró espacio el domingo en la derrota contra Rams.
Una pequeña colchoneta le dio a las costillas fracturadas de Kerwynn Williams protección adicional el domingo, sin embargo, fue una determinación de acero la que demostró ser la verdadera fortaleza.
El corredor de Cardenales se negó a permitir que la dolorosa lesión le afectara, ya que Williams no solo jugó sino que desempeñó un papel protagónico en la derrota 32-16 contra Rams. Williams acarreó balón 16 veces para 97 yardas y fue el catalizador detrás de un festín anotador en el segundo periodo que ayudó a Cardenales a remontar de un brecha de 16-0.
"Creo que solo tienes que dejarte ir," señaló Williams, quien se lesionó la semana pasada contra Jaguars. "Honestamente, si lo piensas demasiado, te frenará. Entonces solo tienes que concentrarte en la tarea que tienes entre manos y hacer lo que puedas para salir y jugar."
La situación de Cardenales parecía incierta de cara al compromiso porque Adrian Peterson estaba inactivo debido a una lesión en el cuello. Mientras Williams ya había dicho presente en el pasado, la
lesión complicaba las cosas, y el entrenador Bruce Arians se preguntaba en voz alta el miércoles cómo se alinearía su rotación de corredores.
Williams tomó la mayoría de los acarreos y respondió al llamado, promediando 6.1 yardas por acarreo para evitar que Cardenales se apagaran.
"Kerwynn siempre sobresale," dijo Arians. "Estaba lesionado. Cada vez que es titular, consigue casi 100 yardas. Fue la chispa que nos ayudó a regresar al juego."
Le preguntaron al entrenador Arians si sabía cuánto podría darle Williams durante el partido.
"Conociendo a Kerwynn, nos iba a dar todo lo que tenía todo el día," respondió Arians.
Williams destacó durante una posesión en el segundo periodo que puso a Cardenales en la pizarra. Se escapó para acarreos de 7, 10, 14, 19 y 7 yardas hasta llevar el balón a franja roja, y Elijhaa Penny, un corredor más corpulento, cerró con una zambullida de 1 yarda para touchdown.
Cardenales anotaron nuevamente en su siguiente posesión mientras el juego terrestre, junto con la amenaza del mismo, mantuvo la defensa de Rams fuera de balance. La línea ofensiva dominó a lo largo de ese tramo.
"Abrieron una gran cantidad de grandes huecos e hicieron posible que yo consiguiera que las jugadas tuvieran lugar," expresó Williams. "Creo que gran parte de mi éxito hoy es un tributo a lo que ellos hicieron."
El juego terrestre de Cardenales no fue tan efectivo en la segunda mitad, y la ofensiva eventualmente tuvo que rezagarse porque el equipo se quedó atrás. Arians dijo que Rams no hicieron nada para limitarlo después del receso de medio tiempo.
"Con esas jugadas que eran de ocho o nueve (yardas), tuvimos dos o tres," dijo Arians. "No estábamos cerrando los bloqueos como es debido."
Mientras que el juego terrestre colapsaba, la actuación de Williams aún ayudó a Cardenales a superar a Rams y promediar 4.9 yardas por acarreo en términos generales.
Cuando inició la semana, Arians dudaba que Williams estuviera disponible para el partido, aunque cambió su tono cuando el veterano se presentó para entrenar el miércoles. El momento de la verdad llegó el domingo – recibir impactos en vivo de los defensores es drásticamente diferente a realizar los movimientos durante la semana – sin embargo Williams nunca parpadeó.
"Es libra por libra uno de los jugadores más rigurosos del equipo," dijo Penny.
Fue una oportunidad poco común para que Williams acarreara el balón consistentemente, ya que ha sido reserva durante la gran mayoría de su carrera. Tuvo una oportunidad fugaz a principios de esta temporada después de la lesión de David Johnson, pero eso se extinguió cuando el equipo firmó a Chris Johnson y luego trajo vía intercambio a Adrian Peterson.
Williams regresó a su rol de respaldo, recibiendo esporádicos toques de balón con la ofensiva y algunos en equipos especiales como encargado de regresos. Entonces, cuando recibió la llamada, su compañero de equipo, Larry Fitzgerald, no se sorprendió al verlo aprovechando la oportunidad, con todo y sus costillas fracturadas.
"Me fascina Kerwynn," comentó Fitzgerald. "Es uno de mis compañeros de equipo favoritos. Es un individuo al que siempre se le pasa por alto, siempre tratando de reemplazarlo, siempre tras los reclutados en el draft. Él nunca permite que eso afecte su mentalidad, nunca permite que eso afecte su preparación. Es un excelente compañero de equipo, y cada vez que tiene éxito, creo que a todos nos encanta verlo."
Images from the Cardinals' Week 13 home game against Los Angeles
![LB Josh Bynes tackles Rams RB Todd Gurley](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/pwt6lc0lk1vyawwhyhoe.jpg)
LB Josh Bynes tackles Rams RB Todd Gurley
![LB Kareem Martin with the interception](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/czpvy3ir1l8cvrsbzkdh.jpg)
LB Kareem Martin with the interception
![RB Elijhaa Penny scores a touchdown](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/rizapvo8xqznfplmzpqn.jpg)
RB Elijhaa Penny scores a touchdown
![Cardinals cheerleaders perform](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/fzfvhfsckd9ay4seokly.jpg)
Cardinals cheerleaders perform
![RB D.J. Foster](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/odkb82hrhon1hl3ny98v.jpg)
RB D.J. Foster
![Former WR Roy Green (left) and former QB Jim Hart, who was inducted into the Ring of Honor at halftime](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/xqn3arz3pdxhuts43ern.jpg)
Former WR Roy Green (left) and former QB Jim Hart, who was inducted into the Ring of Honor at halftime
![Jim Hart and family](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/j61spoopg4qxzxsmmzi0.jpg)
Jim Hart and family
![Cardinals cheerleaders perform](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/z0fbzkqhlvkptp7lnewg.jpg)
Cardinals cheerleaders perform
![QB Drew Stanton's My Cause, My Cleats](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/pipipl3pf0g03cenqc7u.jpg)
QB Drew Stanton's My Cause, My Cleats
![RB D.J. Foster](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/ljm88zl0jy6lelyttjoo.jpg)
RB D.J. Foster
![CB Tramon Williams' My Cause, My Cleats](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/hiomehyddgl0hshpvibi.jpg)
CB Tramon Williams' My Cause, My Cleats
![Honest is the best policy](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/r16vhqlbw4uonhdjxrwr.jpg)
Honest is the best policy
![QB Blaine Gabbert](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/njapngxcnfruq8sqs7ix.jpg)
QB Blaine Gabbert
![S Budda Baker](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/oprixxgaj9mq9cdh2flu.jpg)
S Budda Baker
![DL Frostee Rucker's My Cause, My Cleats](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/xdg70w37vxs13yd3f6v0.jpg)
DL Frostee Rucker's My Cause, My Cleats
![WR Larry Fitzgerald](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/uxzhmg6hrqebiut9q8ao.jpg)
WR Larry Fitzgerald
![RB David Johnson before the game](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/au8cfuoqi8rfhnjo6maw.jpg)
RB David Johnson before the game
![QB Blaine Gabbert](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/gbt7kyfqov2ntghvhdfm.jpg)
QB Blaine Gabbert
![QB Blaine Gabbert](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/hf3iidpob7wychm9h67v.jpg)
QB Blaine Gabbert
![LB Karlos Dansby before the game](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/hiqshski3l9rdrxza16x.jpg)
LB Karlos Dansby before the game
![LB Haason Reddick tackles L.A.'s Josh Reynolds](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/oxfqqw3i44vfaqqnn59o.jpg)
LB Haason Reddick tackles L.A.'s Josh Reynolds
![Rams LB Alec Ogletree returns an interception for a touchdown](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/ab4ufmrxtnskkap9sdll.jpg)
Rams LB Alec Ogletree returns an interception for a touchdown
![Blaine Gabbert](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/smgyunzhssdsk383mwmm.jpg)
Blaine Gabbert
![WR Larry Fitzgerald with the catch](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/q06gaqkcfuqk7lacazfo.jpg)
WR Larry Fitzgerald with the catch
![Cardinals TE Ricky Seals-Jones makes the grab](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/drjsmt49cdprsllwygak.jpg)
Cardinals TE Ricky Seals-Jones makes the grab
![Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/rteqdyrcm6uppkdgv6eq.jpg)
Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert
![Cardinals S Budda Baker and Rams TE Gerald Everett go up for the ball](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/kr03mxwrqjwkpdu3lmnn.jpg)
Cardinals S Budda Baker and Rams TE Gerald Everett go up for the ball
![Cardinals WR J.J. Nelson with the incredible catch](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/enucgfaibmhoaayvjdqz.jpg)
Cardinals WR J.J. Nelson with the incredible catch
![Blaine Gabbert signals to the offense](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/jwfnlrlrnzhrdldgiudh.jpg)
Blaine Gabbert signals to the offense
![Cardinals RB Elijhaa Penny celebrates his first career touchdown](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/odt0dx8eegs6dsbddpkx.jpg)
Cardinals RB Elijhaa Penny celebrates his first career touchdown
![A Cardinals fan makes some noise in University of Phoenix Stadium](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/idslizsrilrxla2mswqf.jpg)
A Cardinals fan makes some noise in University of Phoenix Stadium
![WR Larry Fitzgerald with the catch](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/i9kmhcqfu2mzr5m2xjqn.jpg)
WR Larry Fitzgerald with the catch
![Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert throws on the run](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/r2uvhuhegfcna6usguqr.jpg)
Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert throws on the run
![Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians on the sideline](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/lxjtw0yohgck3gwypp9y.jpg)
Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians on the sideline
![WR Larry Fitzgerald falls into the endzone for a touchdown](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/w4cb3ivdj6nzvniprrwq.jpg)
WR Larry Fitzgerald falls into the endzone for a touchdown
![Larry Fitzgerald falls forward](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/wkbspnxy8hq9duewehwn.jpg)
Larry Fitzgerald falls forward
![Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/kcuvmjw4cpfoghwwogf9.jpg)
Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert
![TE Ricky Seals-Jones with the catch](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/ojvzyp1qgitpdvag9rl5.jpg)
TE Ricky Seals-Jones with the catch
![Rams QB Jared Goff pressured by Cardinals LB Karlos Dansby (left) and S Antoine Bethea (right)](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/unnaeiuk7eitgtgeudvg.jpg)
Rams QB Jared Goff pressured by Cardinals LB Karlos Dansby (left) and S Antoine Bethea (right)
![Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert unloads](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/tpyykohw9jojyb9dbdvc.jpg)
Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert unloads
![WR Larry Fitzgerald secures the catch](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/xsynounc0ju7z7koniij.jpg)
WR Larry Fitzgerald secures the catch
![Team president Michael Bidwill (left) and former Cardinals quarterback Jim Hart (right) during the Ring of Honor ceremony at halftime](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/hllgje9vmhp5phsrwnsm.jpg)
Team president Michael Bidwill (left) and former Cardinals quarterback Jim Hart (right) during the Ring of Honor ceremony at halftime
![Former Cardinals quarterback Jim Hart joins the Ring of Honor during a ceremony at halftime](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/rwdzcmr8ojk40vjjeyw5.jpg)
Former Cardinals quarterback Jim Hart joins the Ring of Honor during a ceremony at halftime
![Rams QB Jared Goff gets rid of the ball before Cardinals LB Chandler Jones reaches him](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/ehc0gpu05lre9tjeijvy.jpg)
Rams QB Jared Goff gets rid of the ball before Cardinals LB Chandler Jones reaches him
![Cardinals LB Kareem Martin is brought down after making his first career interception](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/opdbohnrpktj8lmyoobq.jpg)
Cardinals LB Kareem Martin is brought down after making his first career interception
![Blaine Gabbert speaks with the official](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/xspkvimj7hcep7twduxc.jpg)
Blaine Gabbert speaks with the official
![Cardinals S Budda Baker wraps up Rams WR Pharoh Cooper](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/cx3dyuu7tybgle03zfzz.jpg)
Cardinals S Budda Baker wraps up Rams WR Pharoh Cooper
![Patrick Peterson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/jo7aprmznqtvyjvlrzca.jpg)
Patrick Peterson
![RB Kerwynn Williams runs through the tackles](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/cvy0unp3fbf36n7brstt.jpg)
RB Kerwynn Williams runs through the tackles
![Larry Fitzgerald](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/dyknyu2fplphjz252t0d.jpg)
Larry Fitzgerald
![Cardinals WR J.J. Nelson makes a great catch](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/xc01kc8i4a7aebyz1nws.jpg)
Cardinals WR J.J. Nelson makes a great catch
![Cardinals RB Elijhaa Penny crosses the goal line for his first career touchdown](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/sc4760uvaki4qvet6yc9.jpg)
Cardinals RB Elijhaa Penny crosses the goal line for his first career touchdown
![The Rams sack Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/fksbop2b5sqjk8lht4iq.jpg)
The Rams sack Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert
![Cardinals TE Ricky Seals-Jones hauls in a pass from QB Blaine Gabbert](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/csqiiv5ebnav9dev8nos.jpg)
Cardinals TE Ricky Seals-Jones hauls in a pass from QB Blaine Gabbert
![Rams head coach Sean McVay](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/hqqsfxjq1cayacr7k3kj.jpg)
Rams head coach Sean McVay
![Blaine Gabbert slides for the first down](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/wvxnfnkfvu8pfcddiqhk.jpg)
Blaine Gabbert slides for the first down
![RB Kerwynn Williams (left) celebrates with WR Larry Fitzgerald after Fitzgerald's touchdown](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/d1vhquadv6roqeq1otdy.jpg)
RB Kerwynn Williams (left) celebrates with WR Larry Fitzgerald after Fitzgerald's touchdown
![Larry Fitzgerald (right) greets Rams QB Jared Goff after the game](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/u4uqniulbkeymwvxs6it.jpg)
Larry Fitzgerald (right) greets Rams QB Jared Goff after the game
![Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians (right) speaks with Rams head coach Sean McVay (left) after the game](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/ghssxv026cztulp8bats.jpg)
Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians (right) speaks with Rams head coach Sean McVay (left) after the game
![Larry Fitzgerald leaves the field after the loss](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/nzxcxbsbvdzypogloscg.jpg)
Larry Fitzgerald leaves the field after the loss