Kyle Williams' persistent foot injury may prove to keep the Pro Bowl defensive tackle out of more than just the Giants game this past Sunday. Head coach Chan Gailey said his penetrating interior defensive lineman could miss more time on the field despite the benefit of the bye this week.
"It still looks like he'll miss a game or two maybe and then we'll re-evaluate at that point," said Gailey.
That all but rules Williams out of the Bills' Week 8 game against Washington at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Missing Williams in the middle of their defensive front hasn't made things any easier for a Bills defense that was also missing fellow starters Chris Kelsay and Shawne Merriman this past week against the Giants.
Kelsay stated on Wednesday that he expects to be full go in practice Monday and play against Washington in Week 8. Merriman also intends to be ready for the Washington game following an Achilles flare up in practice last week.
For Williams however, playing at 100 percent may not happen the rest of this season.
"It is what it is," he said. "It's going to be something that I'm going to have to deal with for the rest of the year. Hopefully we can control it where I'll be okay to play."
"I don't know that he'll be 100 percent for the whole year," admitted Gailey. "I don't know that he'll make that."
Without the ability to effectively drive off his foot Williams' trademark burst off the ball hasn't been as explosive as it was last season. The defensive tackle remains hopeful that his situation will improve, but he seems to sense that rest and rehabilitation will only improve his condition so far.
"I've always been pretty quick with healing, but it's an irritating thing and it's been bothering me," said Williams. "Hopefully we can manage it and get it under control where I can go out and be effective."
