Tramon Williams Still Recovering From 2011 Shoulder Injury

Green Bay Packers CB Tramon Williams continues to recover from a shoulder injury suffered in Week 1 of 2011.

Photo: Reuters

Green Bay Packers cornerback Tramon Williams told a Baltimore-area radio station Thursday that a 2011 shoulder injury still hasn't fully healed.

"Like I said, I had nerve damage, so that’s one thing that takes time. It could be a year, it could be two years to come back," Williams told 105.7 The Fan, via Sports Radio Interviews. "And it’s made progress, but it’s still coming. So it’s one of those deals to where my shoulder’s still getting better at this point. I’m still working on it and hopefully it comes all the way back this year.”

Williams originally hurt his shoulder during the Packers' Week 1 win over the New Orleans Saints in 2011. He missed only one game that season (the next week vs. Carolina), and came back in 2012 to play in all 16.

Officially, Williams hasn't been on the injury report because of the shoulder since 2011.

However, one could argue the 29-year-old has regressed since the injury.

After breaking out as the No. 4 overall cornerback (+18.0) at Pro Football Focus in 2010, Williams has finished at No. 45 in 2011 (+1.2) and No. 55 in 2012 (-0.2).

In fact, over the last two seasons, no cornerback has allowed more total yards than Williams' 2,011. He has also been the NFL's second-most targeted corner since 2011 (231 total).

With his shoulder still on the mend, Williams said he hasn't been able to fully utilize the pressing techniques that helped make him one of the NFL's best cover corners in 2010.

“We press a lot in Green Bay so I wasn’t able to do it at that point, wasn’t able to do anything. So it was kind of hard to sit back, because when you’re off you’re kind of giving away some throws," Williams said. "You don’t want to give up anything. So you have to kind of compensate your game for the injury, but like I said, I got through it and just continue to progress."

Williams will turn 30 years old later this month, and he's on the hook for $8.5 million in 2013. Only Jermichael Finley ($8.75 million) and Aaron Rodgers ($9.25 million) will make more.

Bure even with that sizable chunk of change scheduled to come his way, Williams' starting spot in 2013 won't be guaranteed, according to Packers cornerback Joe Whitt.

"We don't work in a business that you can get comfortable and so the guys, we’ll always say, their play will dictate who runs through the tunnel. The guys that play the best will play. That practice the best, that have the best tests," Whitt said, via Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee. "We’re about winning championships, and we fell short. And that’s our charge. We’re going to put the guys out there that are doing the best. If it’s a different guy each week, that’s what it will be. We’re going to do that."

Williams intercepted two passes and defensed 16 more in 16 starts last season.

Zach Kruse is a 24-year-old sports writer who contributes to Cheesehead TV, Bleacher Report and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He also covers prep sports for the Dunn Co. News. You can reach him on Twitter @zachkruse2 or by email at [email protected].

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Comments (15)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
cow42's picture

March 07, 2013 at 06:29 pm

aging.
expensive.
damaged.

cut his ass.

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Zach Kruse's picture

March 07, 2013 at 06:53 pm

Cutting him would create $4 million in dead money, making it unlikely.

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Stroh's picture

March 07, 2013 at 10:37 pm

Why even bother responding to him? Its pretty obvious he's a 9'ers fan far more than a Packers fan.

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cow42's picture

March 08, 2013 at 09:34 am

no - i just think the 49'ers are a lot better than the Packers.
i'm jealous... and pissed.

by the way - i suppose you think williams is gonna heal up and go back to being the pro-bowl level player that he was FOR ONE SEASON. there's no chance that he might just be reverting back toy the players he's been for the rest of his career.

always sunny in stohville.

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Stroh's picture

March 08, 2013 at 10:34 am

I live in reality. I don't think Williams will get back to '10 form but that he can be productive and useful player. Whether he stays in GB beyond next year will be determined by his play. I don't assume he'll
be better or worse.

2 short years ago everyone thought the Packers were the team to beat for the next 3 - 4 years how did that turn out? Thing change quickly in the NFL.

Even if they are a little better it doesn't matter. Baltimore isn't more talented than SF either snd they won the SB.

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cow42's picture

March 08, 2013 at 06:37 pm

if they played 10 games the 49'ers would win 9.

49ers
ravens
patriots
falcons
seahawks
broncos
giants

... all have better rosters (thus better chances of winning the SB) than GB.

GB is weak at...

RB
OL
TE
DL
ILB
S

that's terrible.

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Stroh's picture

March 08, 2013 at 06:40 pm

Only in your extremely negative imagination! More likely 4 of 10 IMO!

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cow42's picture

March 08, 2013 at 10:51 am

"2 short years ago everyone thought the Packers were the team to beat for the next 3 – 4 years how did that turn out? "

exactly.

that's the scary part.

49'ers just keep getting better.

Packers are going to have to make major changes to reverse the regression in talent.

can't keep losing good players and replacing them with average/below average ones.

jenkins - worthy neal
clifton - newhouse/sherrod
collins - jennings/mcmillian
healthy starks - broken starks
wells - EDS
woodson - hayward (a good player but no woodson)

it's depressing.

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Stroh's picture

March 08, 2013 at 01:03 pm

Your too depressing. I think the Packers are fully capable of beating the 9ers. Most talented tesm doesn't always win. 1/2 dozen teams including Packers can win the SB next year!

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imfubared's picture

March 07, 2013 at 06:46 pm

Willaims sucks. They need to look at the film. All he did was stay with the receiver and watch the ball go over his head into their arms. He NEVER turns around for the errant throw or interception. The guy is our achiles heel. Need a first down, pass to whomever Williams is covering.

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MarkinMadison's picture

March 07, 2013 at 06:52 pm

But he was still given the job to cover the other team's #1 receiver. I'm not jumping on the cut Williams band wagon. Maybe after 2013, but not right now.

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dawg's picture

March 07, 2013 at 08:23 pm

Agreed Mark,
Lets hope he can regain his 2010 status.
If not, he's gone 2014, if not earlier, if someone steps up.
Revis wants to stay, GREAT!

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Brooklyn81's picture

March 07, 2013 at 08:50 pm

Yeah let him compete and maybe get one of the cheap FA corners

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Stroh's picture

March 07, 2013 at 10:42 pm

Thats what Whitt said is going to happen in '13. Williams, Shields, House and Hayward are in competition for the starting jobs next year. Williams will be a Packer at least another year do to his cap hit from releasing him, but he'll have to play better if he wants his starting job next year.

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Carlos's picture

March 08, 2013 at 01:19 am

It was a hard grade of pro football focus to give him a -.02 but who else was against megatron twice, andre Johnson and the air attack of saints to name a few. I just want him to recover from the injury and play like he did in 2010, so maybe we dont feel the lost of Woodson.

Un packer de México, btw sorry for my english

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