<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Vikings' Williams carted off field after injuring kneeAssociated PressMANKATO, Minn. -- Minnesota Vikings strong safety Tank Williams was carted off the field on Saturday after injuring his left knee during a training camp practice.Williams injured the knee while backpedaling during a seven-on-seven passing drill. He did not make contact with another player, but as soon as he planted his left leg, he let out a scream and crumpled to the ground.A team spokesman said Williams was taken for evaluation and no more information would be available until Sunday."I was on the field with him," said fellow safety Willie Offord, who had surgery nine months ago to repair torn ligaments in his knee. "It didn't look good."Williams first injured the knee in 2004 while playing with the Tennessee Titans. After starting the first nine games of the year, he tore the ACL in his left knee against Chicago and missed the rest of the season.He came back to start all 16 games for the Titans last season and posted a career-high 83 tackles.The veteran signed with the Vikings in the offseason after spending his first four seasons in Tennessee. He had taken the majority of the snaps with the first-team defense through the first week of training camp, but was competing with the newly signed Dwight Smith for the starting job.Now the signing of Smith, who returned two interceptions for touchdowns in Tampa Bay's Super Bowl victory over Oakland after the 2002 season, becomes even bigger for the Vikings.Smith was released by the New Orleans Saints at the end of July and signed with the Vikings less than a week before training camp opened so he could reunite with defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin, who was Smith's secondary coach in Tampa."I hope to God Tank can bounce back," Smith said. "Great guy, incredible football player, and hopefully he'll get better. ... It didn't look too promising, but you never know, we'll just hope for the best."If not, it will be up to Smith and Offord to pick up the slack alongside Pro Bowl free safety Darren Sharper."We're definitely going to see how our depth is going to play out," Offord said. "It happened a little bit sooner than everybody expected. Everybody was thinking maybe down the line, during the season. But right now, guys have to step it up a little bit."Before Williams' injury, the Vikings moved to bolster their depth in the secondary, releasing veteran receiver Dez White and signing cornerback Tony Beckham, a fifth-year pro out of the Wisconsin-Stout. Beckham was a teammate of Williams the past four years in Tennessee, starting two games last season.It was a rough practice for the Vikings, who have had a more physical training camp under new coach Brad Childress.First-round pick Chad Greenway left about halfway through the session after getting his bell rung during a hard-hitting red zone drill against the offense.The linebacker said after practice he was getting checked out for a concussion, but didn't have the results yet and didn't anticipate being out long."Just being cautious," Greenway said. "We'll see. Whenever they clear me, we'll get it ripping."Starting running back Chester Taylor also missed both practices on Saturday with a left thigh injury.</div>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2540739
That was a good call, however Tank was a solid safety and I actually wanted to see him with the Pats. I wish the best and a speedy recovery.
Well the report is a fractured kneecap. He should be ready by week 2 or so I would imagine. Good thing it wasn't a ligament tear.
Well that's good news man, he wont have to take part in that game where the Redskins woop your guys asses... yeah that game
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JHair @ Aug 6 2006, 10:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well that's good news man, he wont have to take part in that game where the Redskins woop your guys asses... yeah that game </div>Looks like Dwight Smith and Darren Sharper will be doing all the intercepting instead.
Vikings | T. Williams out for the 2006 seasonSun, 6 Aug 2006 10:23:38 -0700Sean Jensen, of the Pioneer Press, reports Minnesota Vikings S Tank Williams (knee) has suffered a broken left kneecap and will miss the 2006 season, according to head coach Brad Childress. Childress did not comment when asked if the team would bring in another safety.Looks like it was worse than I expected. Get well soon Tank.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PurplePeopleEaters @ Aug 6 2006, 11:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Vikings | T. Williams out for the 2006 seasonSun, 6 Aug 2006 10:23:38 -0700Sean Jensen, of the Pioneer Press, reports Minnesota Vikings S Tank Williams (knee) has suffered a broken left kneecap and will miss the 2006 season, according to head coach Brad Childress. Childress did not comment when asked if the team would bring in another safety.Looks like it was worse than I expected. Get well soon Tank.</div>Ouch. Thank God you signed Smith now...lol
