Even though he was an All-Sectional swimmer in high school, Bills DT Kyle Williams is glad to be back on dry land. For the past three months his rehab from Achilles surgery, which included the removal of a bone spur on his heel, has been restricted to the pool. But just this past week Williams took a big step forward in his recovery.
"I went back and saw my doctor in Charlotte two weeks ago and he cleared me," Williams told Buffalobills.com. "I've been running in a pool and other different stuff. Now I'm allowed to do some dry land jogging."
Williams is referring to renowned foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson. Soon after meeting with him midseason last year it was decided that Williams would be placed on injured reserve and have surgery to remove the spur that had been rubbing and fraying his Achilles tendon. To remove it Williams' Achilles had to be detached and then anchored back down again.
"I'm only about three and a half months post-op," said Williams. "I just talked to the Bills training staff this past week and the good news is we have time on our side. This thing is more about giving it time than anything. So we're taking it slow, doing some jogging and giving it enough time to heal and pinch down properly back into my foot. We should be full go by the time training camp comes around."
Williams has been rehabbing five days a week at his offseason home in Louisiana.
"It's all straight line stuff, but I'm on dry land now under body weight," said Williams. "I'm working out. I'll be up there in a week."
The six-year veteran has been back to One Bills Drive for checkups with Buffalo's athletic training and medical staff for progress reports. What has Williams most excited about his progress is the flexibility his left foot and ankle now have post surgery.
"The range of motion is already equal to my right foot, which hasn't been the case in a while," he said. "The other thing was I had to re-teach myself how to walk. I had developed a habit of walking on the outside of that foot to keep the weight off the inside from that bone spur and my Achilles and all that. So I re-trained myself how to walk and I've done some jogging."
The outlook for Williams to be back on the field participating in a practice setting is still training camp in late July, though he's likely to be on hand for OTAs and minicamps for meetings and further rehab in May and June.
"I'm just trying to do everything I can to get that foot healthy," he said. "If I can get it right I'm pretty excited about what I'll be able to do this season."
