ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills safety Aaron Williams' future in football remains uncertain despite his return to practice Thursday from a neck injury that landed him on injured reserve with a designation to return.
"The confidence has always been there," Williams said in the locker room after Thursday's practice. "But it's all about that first hit. When that first hit gets done, that's when I'll know if I should continue playing this game or it's time to move on to a new chapter."
Williams revealed Thursday that he underwent a procedure on his neck in early November, a few weeks after the Bills placed him on injured reserve.
"Right before my procedure just got done, that was when I kind of knew I had a 50-50 [chance] to come back or find another career," Williams said, adding that he began considering the possibilities for his post-football career.
Williams initially suffered his neck injury while attempting to make a diving tackle on a Julian Edelman touchdown against the New England Patriots in Week 2. He lost feeling in the left side of his body, was immobilized and taken from the field to a hospital in an ambulance.
He returned three weeks later against the Tennessee Titans but immediately began to experience further symptoms of a neck injury.
"That first hit, that first stop I made in the game, I reinjured it," he revealed Thursday. "And I don't know -- it's just the fight in me. You never know if it's gonna be your last game or not. Not really thinking of my health and the future. I was thinking in the moment. I told myself, 'Suck it up. You've been hurt before. You've played hurt before. Give everything you have.'
"Unfortunately I had to go on and off the field a few plays. Some of the hits did hurt to where I was in serious pain. The guys let me come on the sideline and I took a couple plays off and I had to pass a lot of tests. To me to go back there I had to really make sure I was OK. I passed the tests, I went back out there, and I finished the game."
Asked if he lost feeling in Tennessee the same way he did against the Patriots, Williams responded, "I wouldn't say all of it's been lost. It was definitely tingling, it was definitely to where I was numb. I had a definitely numb feeling about all of the second half. But I played with numbness before. It really wasn't something I was concerned about. But at the same time they were looking after my health. But I just want to play. That's all it really came down to. At the same time, I had to start looking for my health more than anything else."
Bills coach Rex Ryan has already ruled out Williams for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bills have 21 days from Thursday to activate Williams from injured reserve or keep him on that list for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs, if the Bills qualify.
Williams has traveled with the team on their past several road trips and has watched the game from the press box on multiple occasions.
"I mean, I don't dress up just to be dressing up," he said. "I definitely want to go out there and contribute. I miss hearing the fans' screams. I miss hearing the Ralph go crazy. But at this time, I'm happy where I'm at right now."
