Left tackle Trent Williams expects to play Sunday. He also expects a tougher test than normal.
Williams said his left knee feels good, calling it just a minor setback, and that he would be ready to play vs. the Indianapolis Colts. And coach Mike Shanahan said Williams was able to participate in practice, albeit in a lighter one that had to be held in a hangar at Dulles Airport because of the rain.
“We wouldn’t have him take the reps unless we thought he was gonna play,” Shanahan said.
Which means he’ll have to face end Dwight Freeney.
Williams has fared well vs. Dallas’ DeMarcus Ware and Houston’s Mario Williams. But, he said, Freeney presents a different challenge. Though Freeney has just three sacks this season, he has 87 for his career.
“I don’t know if anyone in the world can prepare you for Freeney,” Williams said. “He’s a different type of guy. He brings a load of different moves. You have to study him. Even with that you still aren’t really safe because he brings everything.”
And then some.
“It’s nerve-wracking. You definitely think about it before you go to sleep at night,” Williams said. “He’s that dominant of a player. We have to do some things that can neutralize the rush. … What I’ve seen so far, I haven’t seen anybody like him.”
Having to face him with even a slightly injured knee is not ideal. But Williams did say he would have been able to take part in a full workout if one had been held Thursday. He said this knee injury was not related to the one he suffered earlier this season, causing him to miss two games.
“When it initially happened, it felt worse than it is,” he said. “I’m blessed to be able to walk after seeing the play. It brought chills down my spine when I seen it on film. It feels a lot better than it looked.”
