Ryan Williams well on the road to recovery
Jul 26, 2012, 3:54 AM | Updated: 6:13 am
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Ryan Williams doesn’t look like a running back
who was lying on the turf at Lambeau Field after suffering a
season-ending knee injury against the Green Bay Packers just 341
days ago.
When training camp opened in Flagstaff for the Arizona Cardinals
Wednesday,
Williams simply looked like the back the team drafted in the 2nd
round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech.
Taking advantage of Beanie Wells being placed on the PUP
(Physically Unable to Perform) List, Williams took on a sizable
workload in his first practice of camp — so much so, that it
surprised even himself.
“I actually practiced more than I thought I would today, for my first
day,” Williams said. “They said I was going to be limited in my plays
and everything so I didn’t know that I was going to run routes, I
didn’t know that I would get that many carries, and I really didn’t
know that I was going to get the ball on that screen.”
If he was surprised, it didn’t show. The second-year pro looked
very comfortable on the upper practice field at NAU, even if he
believes he’s not quite at full strength just yet.
“I do, I do,” Williams answered when asked whether he has any
lingering effects from the torn patellar tendon in his right knee. “I’ll
admit, I’m not 100 percent, but I’m as close to it as I’ve been since
August.
“If I were to guess, I’d say I’m about 85 or 90 (percent), so
throughout the rest of this month and August, I’m trying to get that
last ten to 15 percent back.”
Williams had one of the highlight moments of Wednesday’s practice
when he took a handoff from quarterback John Skelton, side-
stepped
defensive lineman David Carter and zig-zagged though
several defenders on what would have been a long gain. The
practice, after all, was a non-contact walk-through.
The crowd in attendance didn’t seem to mind, as they voiced their
approval.
“It was cool, I loved the support,” he said. “I’m sure a lot of people
out there were paying attention to my rehab, my recovery and my
progress, so for them to be paying attention to rooting me on today
felt good.”
Despite his impressive first day, Williams knows there will be
competition for carries when Wells returns to practice following
offseason knee surgery.
“Beanie will be back, and he’ll be himself and I’m ready to do a 1-2
punch,” Williams said. “That’s my bro, man. For the last two to
three months we’ve been in the rehab facility together and I feel like
this injury has brought us closer together.”
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