Mike Williams might need season-ending back surgery
— -- The Los Angeles Chargers?are still hoping that first-round pick Mike Williams, who has shown some encouraging signs after receiving a second epidural, will not need surgery on his herniated disk, league sources tell ESPN.
The rookie receiver recently was given the epidural in a last-ditch effort to get him ready at some point during training camp, but sources said he is not expected to be ready for the start of camp and there is concern that he could need season-ending back surgery.
Another source is optimistic that Williams will not need surgery and said Thursday afternoon, "He's been coming along pretty well."
The team still is hoping that Williams will respond positively to the second epidural but also knows there's a real chance he will not and his rookie year will be over before it begins.
"This may be a lot more serious than people thought," said one source familiar with the injury.
Williams was diagnosed with a herniated disk after his first practice during rookie minicamp and did not practice again. Chargers coach Anthony Lynn told reporters in the spring that he hoped Williams' back would quiet down enough with rest and he could be ready for training camp. Williams has experienced some positive results from the second epidural, but there still are concerns and uncertainty about how his back will respond this summer.
The Chargers remain uncertain about when Williams initially injured his back. One source said it's possible it was injured at the combine and during his pro day but he did a good enough job masking it so that teams would not know and his draft stock would not be affected.
The Chargers picked Williams with the seventh overall pick, and he showed up in Los Angeles with a bad back.
Popular Reads
ABC News Live