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After spending more than a year in rehab following a gruesome knee injury early last season, Tampa Bay Bucs running back Cadillac Williams is back on the team’s active roster. The Bucs made the expected move today, activating Cadillac from the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform List to their 53-man roster. To make room, the Bucs released veteran running back Michael Bennett, who was quickly claimed by the San Diego Chargers (see note below). Cadillac was thrilled to be back at practice:

“I’ve put in a lot of work. I’m just excited. In these next few weeks we’ll see what happens.”

There’s really no way to predict how well Cadillac will perform. I’m sure he’ll have some trepidation and it will take some time, and a few hits, to get the confidence in his knee back. But he certainly won’t have to carry the workload. He’ll simply compliment fellow running backs Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn. It’s a matter of depth at the position and Cadillac should be able to ease his way back into the lineup as a sidekick. Too bad his return (if he plays this weekend, that is) is against the National Football League’s third-best run defense (70.1 ypg) in the Minnesota Vikings. Nevertheless, it’s a great story that I hope has a happy ending.

Note: Concerning Michael Bennett, apparently the Chargers claimed him off waivers just to keep him from signing with the running back depleted (and AFC West rival) Denver Broncos. Both the Broncos and Chargers put in claims on Michael, but the Chargers have a worse record so they got priority. Funny how that works. Or not funny if you’re a Broncos fan.

Source: Buccaneers.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Cadillac Williams Returns to Bucs Roster

Tampa Bay Bucs RB Cadillac Williams was on the practice field with a trainer during the first day of the team’s minicamp this week. He’s not allowed to practice until he is medically cleared, but head coach Jon Gruden called Cadillac’s speedy comeback from last year’s knee injury nothing short of a miracle:

“It’s one of the most amazing comebacks that I’ve seen. He hasn’t come back yet, but he is banging on the door. Our fans would be proud of him. He’s ready to go now, if you ask him. He’s really putting some good tape together in his individual workouts … the explosive movement appears to be coming back. Change of direction, confidence, stamina, all those things day after day a running back has to do are coming to him. That’s what’s really exciting. He doesn’t appear to have any setbacks at this point. I just keep my fingers crossed and hope it continues, because it’s exciting.”

It wasn’t just any knee injury. Cadillac suffered a career-threatening knee injury last September 30 against Carolina, tearing a patellar tendon. To be back on the practice field already is incredible. In fact, he’s already doing 100-yard sprints, some at full speed. I’m not suggesting you grab him in your fantasy draft, but this is certainly promising news since his surgery last October and obviously successful rehab since.

Source: Tampa Bay Online

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Cadillac Williams Continues ‘Amazing’ Comeback From Devastating Knee Injury