ALAMEDA - Mike Williams ran off the field Wednesday afternoon as the Raiders wrapped practice.
That's progress.
The receiver injured his hamstring the first day of minicamp May 4. He made it almost through the entire first practice before limping of the field.
He ran past quickly but did mention he hoped to be back on the field by the end of the week.
"At least I'm running now," he said.
Williams' work has been limited to the training and weight rooms.
"We don't want to push him back too fast, but obviously we're looking forward to getting him back when he's ready," coach Lane Kiffin said.
That's the way to do it. Nothing is won or lost in May. And after two tough years in Detroit, the last thing the collegiate All-American needs is a nagging injury dogging him in training camp.
• Rookie Johnathan Holland's bad luck with injuries just won't stop.
He dislocated his shoulder at minicamp. He was on the field today but later departed with a left knee injury.
Running back Adimchinobe Echemandu injured his ankle during the workout and was taken off the field on a cart.
• Nearly the entire roster was present for the first day of organized team activities, something veterans usually skip.
Notable exceptions were defensive linemen Warren Sapp, Derrick Burgess and Terdell Sands. Offensive lineman Jeremy Newberry was absent, but with his injury history, he's expected to take some time off.
There's really no need to panic about who is around for voluntary workouts, unless someone like JaMarcus Russell skips out (he didn't).
Kiffin was pleased with the turnout. But unlike a lot of coaches who demand everyone attend regardless, Kiffin acknowledges there has to be a reason players want to be at team headquarters.
"We hope what we're doing out here, they feel like they're getting better so we create an atmosphere where they want to come back, they feel like they're getting coached, they feel like they're better and it's worth being here as opposed to being at home on the East Coast," Kiffin said.
- Jason Jones
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