Patriots put Williams on IR
The Patriots' innovative plans with Tank Williams, which included the longtime safety playing more of a linebacker-like role, have gone by the wayside. A knee injury has ended Williams's season, with the team placing him on injured reserve yesterday.
Williams injured the knee on kickoff coverage with 3:14 remaining in the second quarter of Thursday's exhibition opener against the Ravens.
The loss is significant, as the Patriots had spent more than 10 practices at the start of training camp with Williams working at first-string inside linebacker in their 3-4 alignment. That the Patriots devoted such extensive time to Williams was an indication he was a big part of their plans.
The 28-year-old Williams wasn't necessarily expected to be a full-time starter at linebacker, but was likely to be part of a package that could be called against teams that spread the field with three or more wide receivers. At 6 feet 2 inches and 223 pounds, Williams is big for a safety and on the small side for a linebacker, so it appeared the Patriots were looking to use him as a hybrid.
The Patriots have used Rodney Harrison in a similar role, and Williams - who signed a one-year free agent contract March 6 - offered more depth and flexibility.
Williams was one of two players to leave Thursday's game with an injury and not return, along with receiver and special teams standout Sam Aiken, who hurt his knee while playing on the punt team. The extent of Aiken's injury is not known.
In addition to placing Williams on injured reserve, the Patriots signed veteran cornerback Jeff Shoate to an undisclosed contract.
The 27-year-old Shoate has played in 14 career games, all with the Broncos, who released him Dec. 4. Shoate entered the NFL in 2004 as a fifth-round draft choice. He has also spent time with the Ravens' and Giants' practice squads.
Shoate helps address injury concerns. Jason Webster, Ellis Hobbs, Mike Richardson, and Jonathan Wilhite did not play Thursday, leaving 10-year veteran Fernando Bryant, second-round pick Terrence Wheatley, and nine-year veteran Lewis Sanders as the lone healthy cornerbacks. Wheatley and Sanders played nearly the entire game.
