Former Alabama All-American returns to practice with Arizona Cardinals

Former Alabama All-American Jonah Williams is on his way back for the Arizona Cardinals. But another Alabama alumnus is out with the New York Jets.

The Jets released safety Jaylen Key from their practice squad on Wednesday, the same day that Williams returned to practice for the Cardinals.

Williams sustained a knee injury in Arizona’s season-opening 34-28 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 8. He’s missed seven games on injured reserve.

With Williams’ return to practice, the Cardinals have 21 days to restore him to their 53-man active roster or leave him on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. Arizona already has switched Williams’ designation to “injured reserve/designated for return.”

New York released Key for the third time this season. After playing four seasons for UAB and one for Alabama, Key joined the Jets as the final pick in the NFL Draft on April 27, earning the Mr. Irrelevant title for 2024.

New York waived Key when it reduced its preseason roster to the regular-season limit on Aug. 27. But the Jets brought him back for their practice squad as soon as he cleared waivers.

New York released Key from its practice squad on Sept. 25, then signed him again on Oct. 9.

Five other players from Alabama high schools and colleges were on the NFL’s transactions report for Wednesday:

· Defensive tackle Shakel Brown (Troy) signed with the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad. Brown spent last season on injured reserve with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted rookie. This season, Brown spent the offseason, training camp and preseason with San Francisco and was with the 49ers’ practice squad for a week before being released.

· Detroit Lions defensive tackle Brodric Martin (Northridge, North Alabama) returned to practice. A 2023 third-round draft pick, Martin has spent the season on injured reserve because of a preseason knee injury.

· Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce (Daphne, Samford) went on injured reserve. Pierce sustained a calf injury in Sunday’s 29-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns. On Wednesday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he did not think the injury would be season-ending. But by rule, Pierce will have to miss at least the next four games.

· Jacksonville Jaguars running back Keilan Robinson (Alabama) returned to practice. A 2024 fifth-round draft pick from Texas, Robinson has spent the season on injured reserve after sustaining a toe injury at training camp. Robinson ran for 254 yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries for the Crimson Tide in 2019 before transferring to the Longhorns.

· Outside linebacker Jamie Sheriff (South Alabama) was released from the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad. The Mississippi Beerman’s Cinderella story as an undrafted rookie this season has included going to the Carolina Panthers as a waiver claim after being cut by the Seahawks at the end of the preseason. After playing in the Panthers’ season-opener, Sheriff was waived, and he returned to Seattle as a practice-squad member. He played in the Seahawks’ Week 6 game as a practice-squad elevation.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.