- Messages
- 79,281
- Reaction score
- 45,652
Texans' Williams walks for 1st time since injury
Wide receiver back on his feet four days after spinal surgery
By JOHN McCLAIN Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Aug. 28, 2008, 7:54PM
Thursday was a special day for former Texans receiver Harry Williams.
Williams got out of his bed at Presbyterian Hospital-Dallas and walked for the first time since suffering the career-ending injury to his spine against the Cowboys on Friday and undergoing surgery to fuse the second and fourth vertebrae Sunday.
“It was hard, and I’m still weak, but I’m making great progress,” Williams said. “I have to take things one day at a time.”
Before their preseason game against Tampa Bay, the Texans paid tribute to Williams, who had become the team’s best special teams player.
In honor of Williams, coach Gary Kubiak had the kickoff team introduced. The last player to exit the tunnel was kicker Kris Brown, who ran onto the field holding up Williams’ No. 86 jersey to the crowd.
“I feel so blessed right now,” Williams said. “I feel so loved.”
Williams isn’t sure when, but sometime next week, he’ll return to Houston to begin rehabilitation at the Medical Center.
“I can’t wait to get back to see my guys,” said Williams, who has been in almost constant contact with players and coaches since suffering the injury. “They call me a lot. I don’t know what I’d do without them.
“That shows what football’s all about – camaraderie and relationships that’ll last for the rest of your life. It shows we’re a family, and we’re going to stick by each other no matter what.”
Kubiak said Williams would have made the team as the sixth receiver because of how well he played on special teams, but his career ended after he collided with teammate Nick Ferguson while trying to make a tackle on a kickoff return.
On the field, Williams was paralyzed from the neck down. It wasn’t until he was in the ambulance on his way to the hospital before feeling returned to his fingers and toes.
“It’s been a little rough, as you can imagine,” said Williams’ mother, Marshall. “But Harry’s so positive, so inspiring. Word’s just can’t express it.
“My birthday’s Monday, and this is the best birthday a mother could have."
Watching her son walk Thursday and knowing that he’ll lead a normal life is a special Labor Day birthday present. She has been by her son’s side since he suffered the injury.
"My mom’s my rock,” Williams said. “She always has been. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
Williams’ agent, Harold Lewis, said his client wanted to return to college to get an engineering degree.
“Yeah, I would like to get my degree, but I can’t really think about that too much at this point,” Williams said. “Right now, I’m just trying to get better.
“I’m mad that I won’t be able to play football again, but I’ll get over it. I feel blessed, truly blessed, because I’ll be able to walk again and lead a normal life.”
Williams, who grew up in Birmingham, Ala., and played at Tuskegee, signed with the Texans in December of 2006.
After spending almost all of the 2007 season on the practice squad, Williams had excelled on the coverage teams. He was having an outstanding training camp and preseason before suffering the fracture in his neck.
Dr. Drew Dossett, one of the Cowboys’ physicians, performed the surgery – a six-hour procedure.
Right before he went into surgery and right after he came out, Williams told the players who called that he didn’t want them to be concerned about him.
“I don’t want them worrying about me,” he said. “I’m going to be okay. I want them to focus on football. This is an important season.
“Coach Kubiak has them believing in each other. They’ve got a big game coming up against Pittsburgh.
“I can’t wait to get back to Houston to see my guys. I miss them so much. I’ll be back sometime next week. I can’t wait."
Wide receiver back on his feet four days after spinal surgery
By JOHN McCLAIN Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Aug. 28, 2008, 7:54PM
Thursday was a special day for former Texans receiver Harry Williams.
Williams got out of his bed at Presbyterian Hospital-Dallas and walked for the first time since suffering the career-ending injury to his spine against the Cowboys on Friday and undergoing surgery to fuse the second and fourth vertebrae Sunday.
“It was hard, and I’m still weak, but I’m making great progress,” Williams said. “I have to take things one day at a time.”
Before their preseason game against Tampa Bay, the Texans paid tribute to Williams, who had become the team’s best special teams player.
In honor of Williams, coach Gary Kubiak had the kickoff team introduced. The last player to exit the tunnel was kicker Kris Brown, who ran onto the field holding up Williams’ No. 86 jersey to the crowd.
“I feel so blessed right now,” Williams said. “I feel so loved.”
Williams isn’t sure when, but sometime next week, he’ll return to Houston to begin rehabilitation at the Medical Center.
“I can’t wait to get back to see my guys,” said Williams, who has been in almost constant contact with players and coaches since suffering the injury. “They call me a lot. I don’t know what I’d do without them.
“That shows what football’s all about – camaraderie and relationships that’ll last for the rest of your life. It shows we’re a family, and we’re going to stick by each other no matter what.”
Kubiak said Williams would have made the team as the sixth receiver because of how well he played on special teams, but his career ended after he collided with teammate Nick Ferguson while trying to make a tackle on a kickoff return.
On the field, Williams was paralyzed from the neck down. It wasn’t until he was in the ambulance on his way to the hospital before feeling returned to his fingers and toes.
“It’s been a little rough, as you can imagine,” said Williams’ mother, Marshall. “But Harry’s so positive, so inspiring. Word’s just can’t express it.
“My birthday’s Monday, and this is the best birthday a mother could have."
Watching her son walk Thursday and knowing that he’ll lead a normal life is a special Labor Day birthday present. She has been by her son’s side since he suffered the injury.
"My mom’s my rock,” Williams said. “She always has been. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
Williams’ agent, Harold Lewis, said his client wanted to return to college to get an engineering degree.
“Yeah, I would like to get my degree, but I can’t really think about that too much at this point,” Williams said. “Right now, I’m just trying to get better.
“I’m mad that I won’t be able to play football again, but I’ll get over it. I feel blessed, truly blessed, because I’ll be able to walk again and lead a normal life.”
Williams, who grew up in Birmingham, Ala., and played at Tuskegee, signed with the Texans in December of 2006.
After spending almost all of the 2007 season on the practice squad, Williams had excelled on the coverage teams. He was having an outstanding training camp and preseason before suffering the fracture in his neck.
Dr. Drew Dossett, one of the Cowboys’ physicians, performed the surgery – a six-hour procedure.
Right before he went into surgery and right after he came out, Williams told the players who called that he didn’t want them to be concerned about him.
“I don’t want them worrying about me,” he said. “I’m going to be okay. I want them to focus on football. This is an important season.
“Coach Kubiak has them believing in each other. They’ve got a big game coming up against Pittsburgh.
“I can’t wait to get back to Houston to see my guys. I miss them so much. I’ll be back sometime next week. I can’t wait."
You go boy!
