The Bills have been getting used to life under a new coaching staff this spring, but one key member of the defense hasn’t been able to do anything but watch from the sideline.
Defensive tackle Kyle Williams had surgery on his right foot in February to take care of a bone spur that forced him to play in pain all season. It was the second straight year that Williams required that type of surgery, although the 2012 version of it came on his left foot after a torn Achilles ended Williams’ season after five games. Williams said this year’s surgery was precautionary and that he’s progressing well enough to be on the field come the start of training camp.
“Should be training camp. That’s what we would think,” Williams said, via Joe Buscaglia of WGR550.com. “Based on the time that the last one took, this one… that’s the reason we said, ‘Hey, let’s just go ahead and do it. We’ve got time to do it, time to get back from it and to hit the ground running.”
The Bills are changing their defensive philosophy under new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, but not so much that Williams will be playing a lesser role in 2013. The team will still look to him to anchor their line by bullying blockers in the middle against both the run and the pass. Based on his five sacks and solid overall play while in pain last season, Williams should be able to provide it.