Bills Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kyle Williams said last week he was hopeful that three weeks of complete inactivity for his ailing left foot would make a difference and allow him to contribute to Buffalo's push for their first postseason berth in 12 years. As early as Tuesday Williams could know whether he has a chance to do so or not.
Williams, who was scheduled to undergo an MRI Monday will be meeting with renowned foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte, North Carolina later this week.
"He'll be going down tomorrow or the next day," said head coach Chan Gailey Monday. "I think something definitive will happen there one way or another."
Gailey admitted that one of the possible outcomes is shutting Williams down for the rest of the year as a persistent foot problem that first surfaced in training camp has not gotten better as the season has worn on.
Anderson is the same physician that was seen by former Bills pass rusher Aaron Schobel following his Lisfranc foot injury that cost him the last 11 games of the 2008 season. Schobel came back in 2009, without having surgery, to post a 10-sack season which included an interception return for a touchdown.
It's believed that Williams' affliction is far different from that of Schobel's though exact specifics are not known.
Williams appeared in just the first five games this season. A foot injury that first surfaced in training camp got progressively worse and robbed the defensive lineman of his trademark burst off the ball. Without that short area speed and quickness absent from his game his overall performance suffered making him less than the Pro Bowl player he was a season ago.
For the self-motivated Williams, sitting and watching the past three games has not been easy. Knowing he's going to miss the last eight is going to prove just as hard.
"It's been tough," Williams admitted. "I've been talking to coach and been here playing so hard for so long and struggled through some tough times. Now we've got a really good team and everything is right in front of us and here I am."
Marcell Dareus has been Williams chief replacement since he has been out of the lineup, starting at nose tackle each of the past two games.
Buffalo's head coach pretty much ruled Williams out for Sunday's game at Dallas.
"I'd say yes that he wouldn't be available this week," said Gailey.
