The Arizona Cardinals are signing a former first-round pick to fortify their offensive line, adding Jedrick Wills off the Buffalo Bills practice squad, per ESPN's Mike Garafolo.
Wills, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 draft, was a solid piece of the Cleveland Browns' offensive line from 2020-22, operating as their starting left tackle. A series of knee injuries, though, limited him to 13 games across the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
When on the field, his effectiveness also waned. Across those two years, he allowed an 8.9% pressure rate, up from 5.8% in his first three years, per Pro Football Focus. He then sat out the 2025 season while rehabbing from those injuries.
This past offseason, Wills signed a cheap one-year deal with the Chicago Bears, but
was released at the end of training camp. He then signed with the Bills, where he has remained on the practice squad since.
In Arizona, he lands with a team that has a glaring need at the position. After losing left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. for the season, the Cardinals were down to seventh-round rookie Jayden Williams and Elijah Wilkinson as their presumptive starters at tackle. Williams has earned high praise from the coaching staff, but remains a Day 3 rookie — a risky proposition. Wilkinson, meanwhile, has struggled throughout the first month of the season.
It is not immediately clear what Wills' role will be with the Cardinals, who also needed depth at tackle. It seems plausible, though, that he could push for a starting job, if he's able to discover anything close to his pre-injury form.
Cardinals make series of roster moves
Prior to reportedly signing Wills, the Cardinals announced the following series of roster moves:
- Placed Johnson and TE Hunter Long on IR
- Signed TE Teagan Quitoriano to the active roster
- Signed TE Kenny Yeboah, OL Austin Deculus, S Mark Perry to the practice squad
- Released CB D'Shawn Jamison and OL Vershon Lee from the practice squad
Those moves left one available spot on the 53-man roster, which will be filled by the addition of Wills.
Losing Johnson for the season is the headlining move, though head coach Mike LaFleur had announced that on Monday, Oct. 5. Long, meanwhile, was their third tight end with Tip Reiman still on the physically unable to perform list. Quitoriano will now fill that role. It is not clear whether Long's injury is season ending.
On the positive side, safety Andrew Wingard (knee) and right guard Isaiah Adams (ankle) avoided being placed on injured reserve, indicating that their injuries are shorter term.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals signing former 1st-round pick to bolster O-line, per report
