Everyone loves a touchdown by a big guy, and Jonah Williams is no exception.
The Arizona offensive tackle was in the right spot at the right time on Sunday, scoring his first touchdown since sixth grade during the Cardinals’ 30-17 win over the New England Patriots.
“That’s what I tried to do — I planned it, I practiced it,” Williams said, humorously. “It’s such a random play to get so much praise for.”
Williams earned the praise.
The starting right tackle was listed as questionable with an illness after what he called a tough night. Arizona’s trainers helped him recover enough to play, and the 6-foot-5, 312-pound player made one of the most important plays of the game.
Leading 3-0 late in the first quarter, the Cardinals drove the ball to New England’s 8-yard line. Arizona wide receiver Greg Dortch took a handoff and tried to reach the goal line, but fumbled while being tackled.
Williams, who had pulled from his right tackle spot, collided with Patriots defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale as he ran to the left side. He kept moving and jumped on the ball just before it rolled out of the end zone, preventing a touchback that could have been a crushing blow to the Cardinals’ hopes.
Williams hesitated at first during his celebration, as officials were determining if he had recovered the ball in time. He finally celebrated after teammate Paris Johnson Jr. confirmed it was indeed a touchdown.
“I was like, what? How’s that work?” Williams said.
It’s understandable that Williams didn’t know how it felt, given it had been a long time since his last touchdown.
The last time? When he was playing for the Atlanta Colts at Murphey Candler Park in Georgia.
“I remember the hole opened up, it was 30-trap, the center climbed the linebacker, and I just hid behind him,” Williams said with a smile. “I almost got hogged by a nose guard — it was really embarrassing. That’s probably why it was my last chance to run the ball.”
Williams has not run the ball in years, but this first NFL touchdown was a nice reward for a player who has spent much of his career blocking in the trenches.
Williams grew up in Georgia before moving to Northern California in ninth grade. He was a five-star recruit out of Folsom High School and played three years at Alabama, earning third-team All-America honors before entering the NFL.
The Bengals selected him 11th overall in the 2019 draft, but a shoulder injury ruined his rookie season. He started 10 games in 2020 before suffering a knee injury but became a mainstay on Cincinnati’s offensive line, starting 49 games over the next three seasons.
Williams signed a two-year deal with the Cardinals during the offseason but suffered another knee injury that kept him out for nine games. He returned to play on Nov. 24 against Seattle and has started the last four games, making a crucial play against the Patriots that keeps Arizona’s slim playoff hopes alive.
“That was an excellent play by him, just maxing out effort,” said Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon.
It’s a play Williams will certainly remember, especially since Arizona’s equipment staff saved the ball, perhaps to sit next to the one from his sixth-grade touchdown.
“I kept that one forever,” Williams said. “That’s my pride and joy.”
Williams may have been joking about the sixth-grade ball, but his first NFL touchdown will definitely have a place of honor, whether on a mantle or somewhere special.
