The injury suffered by Saints cornerback P.J. Williams in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Giants made for a scary scene on the field, but it looks like Williams has avoided any spinal injury.
Williams was knocked out after taking two knees to the head while tackling Giants tight end Larry Donnell, leading to an extended period with trainers on the field before he was immobilized and carted off the field. Williams went to the hospital and was diagnosed with a concussion, but was moving his extremities and tests for spinal injuries appear to have come back without showing any reason for serious concerns on that front.
“We’ll keep you posted, but I think he’s doing better,” Payton said, via the New Orleans Advocate. “Any time there’s an extended injury timeout, I think it’s difficult for both teams. Credit both teams for waiting, and obviously the medical people handling it with the proper protocol.”
Williams’ condition will be updated in the coming hours and days, but any absence will leave the Saints shorthanded on corners with Delvin Breaux already out with a fractured fibula. Sterling Moore and Ken Crawley were the top two corners for most of Sunday’s 16-13 loss, which saw the Saints defense turn in the team’s top performance of the day despite the missing bodies.