Making Progress Cadillac Williams is optimistic about playing in 2008, but he is realistic and knows it might not happen. Williams suffered a career-threatening knee injury on Sept. 30 against Carolina. He tore his patellar tendon after sprinting up the right sideline on an 18-yard gain. He tried to plant his right leg to cut and was simultaneously knocked to the ground by a hard hit from Panthers strong safety Chris Harris. Williams had surgery in October and has been rehabilitating since. Although he wants to play this season, it will be a challenge for him to be ready by training camp. "I would love to be ready for training camp. Ready for opening day. Of course, that's my goal," Williams said Friday at One Buc Place. "At the same time, we have to be smart with it. I'm just going to continue to work, and come training camp, come the season, see how things are going and take it from there." Even though Williams is not sure when he will be ready to play, the former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year thinks it can happen this season. "No doubt. I think there is a great shot to play this season. I feel good about it," Williams said. "If my body is responding right and I feel good, no, I don't feel like it would be rushing me to play in 2008. If I'm having complications with it and things aren't going right, maybe" he'll take more time. Williams is cautiously optimistic, because his injury is viewed as potentially career-ending. He was given a timetable of nine to 12 months before he would be fully recovered. Williams can jog, do light squats, one-legged squats, run up stadium stairs, run in a pool and push a sled. Even though they are light activities, those are monumental achievements that he was not sure he would reach after having the surgery. "I think the first two months were the toughest," Williams said. "Close to five to six weeks, there was a stage where I basically couldn't move my leg. Couldn't walk. Couldn't do anything. I was in Birmingham and totally relying on my mom, which I think she actually enjoyed. After that, 3 1/2 to four months, I started turning that corner. I started seeing that light. I'm getting active. It's feeling better. I can do some things on it." No matter what Williams does, it might be hard for him to convince the Bucs he should play this season. Since Williams likely will not be ready for the season opener, he could be placed on the physically unable to perform list, which means he would be ineligible to play in Tampa Bay's first six games. During weeks seven through 10, Williams could be activated or work out with the team. After the first 10 weeks of the season, Williams would have to be activated, waived or placed on injured reserve, which would require him to miss the rest of the season. The Bucs eventually will have to decide if it is worth risking Williams' long-term health in allowing him to play - especially if he misses training camp - or if they should save him for 2009. Tampa Bay already has running back Earnest Graham, who rushed for 898 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, and they re-signed Michael Bennett and signed Warrick Dunn after he was released by the Falcons. That solid running corps could give the Bucs a reason not to rush Williams' recovery this season. "Early on in the process, you are laying in bed, doing rehab and you can't move your leg. You start to think about what the doctors are telling you and they are just speculating," Williams said. "We are human. Sometimes I had low points, but at the same time, you bounce back, do a lot of praying, and I feel like I will be OK." Anwar Richardson, The Tampa Tribune 15 March 2008