National Football League

Cardinals' rookie RB tears patella tendon

Published Aug. 19, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Rookie Cardinals running back Ryan Williams could miss the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury in Friday night's preseason game at Green Bay, The Arizona Republic reports.

Williams, a second-round draft pick out of Virginia Tech, was carried off with his head in his hands in the third quarter after his leg twisted in a tackle.

Early medical reports suggested he had ruptured his patella tendon, an injury that would require season-ending surgery.

Williams was expected to play an important role in the Cardinals' offense this year, backing up Beanie Wells.