Cardinals running back Ryan Williams out for season with shoulder injury

The Arizona Cardinals’ already embattled ground game has taken a severe blow with the announcement that running back Ryan Williams is out for the season because of a left shoulder injury that will require surgery.

The Cardinals already are without Beanie Wells until at least Thanksgiving weekend because of a severe turf toe injury.

The hard-luck Williams missed all of his rookie season a year ago because of a torn patella tendon. He injured his shoulder on a hard hit during a loss Thursday night at St. Louis.

The injury leaves Arizona with running backs LaRod Stephens-Howling, William Powell and Alfonso Smith. Stephens-Howling missed the last two weeks because of a hip flexor injury.

The Cardinals are 4-1 despite their virtual lack of any ground game. They rank 31st out of 32 NFL teams in yards rushing per game at 63.4. Only Oakland’s 60.8 is worse.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt revealed the extent of the injury in his brief meeting with reporters following the team’s light workout on Monday.

“The timetable for recovery is probably three months, so that puts him out for the season,” Whisenhunt said.

Giants safety suspended

The NFL suspended New York Giants rookie safety Will Hill for using Adderall, the same prescription drug that teammate Tyler Sash used.

The Giants announced Hill’s suspension Monday, the same day they added Sash back to the 53-man roster, following his suspension, which was announced during training camp.

Hill’s suspension will begin immediately. He will be eligible to return to the Giants’ active roster on Nov. 5, the day after the Giants play the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Giants had received a roster exemption last week for Sash, who practiced but was not activated for the team’s 41-27 victory Sunday over Cleveland.

“I received a doctor’s prescription for Adderall prior to signing with the Giants,” Hill said. “Shortly after signing with the team, I was in a meeting with [director of player development] Charles Way, who reviewed the list of the league’s banned substances. I knew at that point that this may be an issue. I was tested and the results came back that Adderall was in my system. I appealed but lost the appeal. I accept full responsibility for this situation, and it won’t happen again.”

Cassel not likely to play

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter Sunday against Baltimore and is unlikely to play in this weekend’s game at Tampa Bay.

Cassel was hit by the Ravens’ Haloti Ngata while completing a pass to Jamaal Charles in the Chiefs’ 9-6 loss. He remained on the ground for several minutes before walking off the field.

Chiefs Coach Romeo Crennel said he’s not yet ruling Cassel out against the Buccaneers, but he also said that the quarterback’s health is paramount.

Crennel said that Brady Quinn will prepare to start Sunday. Ricky Stanzi would be the backup quarterback.

Etc.

Tennessee Coach Mike Munchak said quarterback Jake Locker would miss his second straight game because of an injured left shoulder Thursday night when the Titans play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Munchak also said that backup running back Javon Ringer would miss four to six weeks after spraining his left knee. ... Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin said safety Troy Polamalu would miss the Tennessee game after aggravating his strained right calf and linebacker LaMarr Woodley was doubtful because of a mild right hamstring injury. ... Quarterback Robert Griffin III felt good enough to attend an event called a Rookie Success Program meeting Monday morning and seemed, by all accounts, to be doing just fine on the day after suffering his first NFL concussion. Griffin still has to complete the league’s mandated return-to-play protocol before he’s cleared for practice, but his Washington Redskins teammates and Coach Mike Shanahan were optimistic the Heisman Trophy winner would be able to play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

Vikings strong safety Harrison Smith won’t be punished further for his shove of an official that drew a 15-yard penalty and automatic ejection Sunday against Tennessee. ... New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker said that he was only joking when he said that he enjoyed catching 13 passes against the Denver Broncos to “stick it” in Coach Bill Belichick’s face. “It was a joke. I don’t know what else to say about it,” Welker said during a rare Monday appearance in the locker room during media availability. “Bill and I, whether y’all believe it or not, have a good relationship, and it was a joke and I’ll make sure to keep that in-house going forward.” ... Running back Kevin Faulk is retiring after 13 seasons with the Patriots.