Enjoying The Ride

New outlook for Bills safety after two serius injuries.

- Mark Ludwiczak

Aaron Williams has yet to fully reclaim his role as a key defensive playmaker and starter for the Bills. But you won’t find him sulking or bemoaning his string of bad luck any- time soon.

“No matter what mood I’m in, I’m excited coming in this building,” Williams said.

Indeed, Williams wakes up at the crack of dawn and arrives at One Bills Drive by 7 a.m. with a smile on his face knowing that he gets another shot to do what he loves most.

Just under a year ago — and then briefly once again following a scare last month — there were concerns that Williams may never play football again.

“If people went through what I went through, they would appreciate it a lot more than what they see right now,” Williams said. “But I was the same way. You don’t realize what anything happens until it actually happens to you. It’s just like when you’re six years old and some guy comes in to talk to you guys and say, you’ve got to do this and that ... you’re listening but you’re not really listening until it happens to you. And then you’re like, crap — what he said was right.”

Williams’ life-changing moment came in Week 3 last year against the New England Patriots. Williams raced toward the sideline to try and prevent Patriots receiver Julian Edelman from reaching the end zone and grabbed him as Edelman fell on the pylon. The play didn’t appear to be particularly devastating at first, but Williams suffered a serious neck injury that would require surgery. He eventually underwent surgery to remove part of a cervical bone that was creating a nerve impingement.

Slowly but surely he attempted to make his return. Williams made his way back to the practice field late last year but was not given the go-ahead to play in a game. His play was sorely missed on a defense that under whelmed and under performed in his absence.