Buffalo Bills Rumors: Rookie Karlos Williams [Injury Update] Could Be The No. 2 Running Back Behind LeSean McCoy When Season Starts
Running back was expected to a strength for the Buffalo Bills this season. However, with all the injuries that has occurred at the position, the depth chart could look totally different than expected.
The Buffalo News is reporting that rookie running back Karlos Williams could be slotted as the backup behind starter LeSean McCoy when the Bills take the field against Indianapolis on September 13. The fifth-round selection out of Florida State started training camp fourth on the depth chart behind McCoy, Fred Jackson, Boobie Dixon, and Bryce Brown.
Jackson (hamstring), Dixon (calf), and Brown (hamstring) are currently on the shelf.
Williams, who coach Rex Ryan said that the reason they drafted him was for special teams, could be on the sidelines himself, as he was admitted to the hospital early this morning after experiencing pain, according to Ryan.
Update: According to one source Williams condition is “serious” and he will likely be out of action for several weeks.
It is still unknown what exactly caused Williams this enormormous pain.
“Once we find out, you guys will know… He woke up in the morning. He felt a little something weight lifting in the afternoon [Sunday]. But it wasn’t anything. But now he obviously he had this thing where if you’d touch him… obviously he’s in a lot of pain.”
The severity of Williams’ illness will determine whether he can take advantage of the absences of the Bills’ other running backs. Williams had already jumped Brown on the depth chart and was using this week of practice, as well as the game against Cleveland, as an opportunity to move up the depth chart further.
“There is,” Williams said. “There’s a really good chance. But it’s part of the process. There are always ups and downs during camp. You never know who’s going to come back and how long guys are going to be out. You’ve just got to be able to take advantage of the opportunity in front of you every day. I’m going to continue to do that and hopefully that builds trust and confidence within the coaches in me to be able to play early.”
Williams has been decisive and explosive during training camp and against the Carolina Panthers on Friday. Against the Panthers, Williams ran for 43 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries (2.9 yards per carry) — his longest run was 10 yards. Williams also had two receptions for 23 yards.
Unless one of the injured running backs return, the only other healthy running back the Bills willl have — other than McCoy — when the team play the Browns is undrafted rookie free agent Bronson Hill, which is why wide receiver Marcus Thigpen took snaps as a running back on Monday, according to ESPN.
Hill, out of Eastern Michigan, rushed for 23 yards on nine attempts against Carolina. Thigpen started his career as a running back with the Miami Dolphins, where he totaled seven rushes for 26 yards in two seasons.
[Photo by Brett Carlsen / Getty Images]
