Schuetz

The Carolina Panthers rookie DeAngelo Williams had a collision with Ted Washington injuring his right leg and his ankle on Oct. 8th game against Cleveland.

He has been diagnosed a high ankle sprain on both sides. Hi recovery has been very slow since he was injured but he came progressively. He practiced two of the three days last week. Unfortunately, he missed his third consecutive game in the loss to Dallas. Williams also participated in the practice both days this week. He now hopes to help the Panthers' struggling offense against Tampa Bay on Nov. 13th after the bye week.

The Panthers are 4-4 and desperately need all the help they can get at running back. They rank 25th in the league in rushing. DeShaun Foster is averaging 3.8 yards a carry, and he has only three runs of more than 13 yards and two touchdowns. While Williams has carried the ball 117 fewer times, he recorder not less than five carries of 13 and more yards, and one touchdown. Coach John Fox explained on Thursday that if Williams had not been injured the Panthers would have better records.

The former Memphis star was a first round pick in the draft of the Panthers. When he joined the club as the 27th signed player, he was wishing that he would eventually become the Panthers' No. 1 back. Even though the situation would prompt his wish to come true, Williams has developed a close relationship with running back Foster. Williams explained that Foster had been very supportive. Therefore he is just wishing to get back on the field with his partner as soon as possible.

Williams, who was the NCAA's all-time leader with 7,573 all-purpose yards, explaining that the hardest parts to deal with after being injured were the waiting and going through rehabilitation with the training staff. And even if he has been in rehab for only three weeks, it has been the longest period of his career. He has been wrongly diagnosed many times able to play before finally being allowed to get back on the field.