MANKATO, Minn. (Aug. 6, 2006) -- Minnesota Vikings safety Tank Williams will probably miss the entire season with an injury to his left kneecap sustained Aug. 5 during training camp practice.
Coach Brad Childress said that no roster move had been made yet regarding Williams, who signed with the Vikings as a free agent earlier this year after four seasons with Tennessee.
"I feel terrible for Tank," Childress said, adding that he became emotional when he saw Williams in the locker room after he was carted off the field.
Williams, who was hurt while backpedaling during a passing drill, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in 2004. After missing the last seven games of that season, he returned and started all 16 games in 2005 while totaling a career-high 83 tackles. Williams was competing with Dwight Smith, another free agent addition, to start at one of the safety spots opposite Darren Sharper.
Williams didn't have any ligament damage, Childress said, but he will need surgery.
Also, defensive tackle Kevin Williams didn't practice as a precaution because of swelling in his surgically repaired right knee. The other starting tackle, Pat Williams, will likely be taken off the physically unable to perform list in the next few days, Childress said. He had missed his target weight and wasn't in condition.
Rookie linebacker Chad Greenway, who sustained a concussion Aug. 5, was held out of practice the next morning but was on the field for an afternoon special teams workout. Running back Chester Taylor was still limited by a strained left leg.
