Cadillac still parked on sideline

After suffering a bruised foot against the Bears, the running back missed a second consecutive practice and remains questionable for Sunday's game. 

By STEPHEN F. HOLDER
Published December 22, 2006

TAMPA - Bucs running back Cadillac Williams looked no closer to returning to action when he trudged into the locker room Thursday wearing a protective walking boot on his right foot.

Williams suffered a bruise on the top of the foot against the Bears when Chicago's 318-pound defensive lineman Alfonso Boone stepped on him. Now, after missing practice a second consecutive practice, Williams remains questionable for Sunday's game at Cleveland.

"He's a big guy," Williams said of Boone. "Maybe (I'll practice today) once I come out of the boot."

Today will be the team's final practice before the game, with the standard walkthrough scheduled for Saturday.

Williams has not missed a game this season and wants to preserve that streak to end on a bad season on high note.

"It's real important (to play last two games)," he said. "It's been a tough year for us, but I would like to finish it with these two games. So I'm doing whatever I can here. Getting treatment, I'm in the whirlpool, I'm doing everything I can to be on the field Sunday."

Meantime, backup Michael Pittman continued to take the bulk of the snaps in practice, with Earnest Graham seeing spot duty with the first-team offense.

Also, cornerback Juran Bolden (quadriceps) and linebacker Jamie Winborn (knee) missed practice with injuries. Tight end Alex Smith aggravated an ankle injury. All are questionable.

WATCH WINSLOW: The Bucs will get their first look at Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow on Sunday, the NFL's reception leader among tight ends. Winslow, playing his first full season after being sidelined by a motorcycle accident and knee injuries the past two years, has played brilliantly for the Browns.

His 76 receptions, including 10 for 20 yards or longer, rank 13th in the NFL. That ties him with a standout receiver like Steve Smith of the Panthers and is more than the Cardinals' Anquan Boldin (75).

None of this is a surprise to Bucs linebackers coach Joe Barry, who has spent much of his week devising ways to defend Winslow. Barry helped conduct an NFL workout during Winslow's senior year at Miami and observed his ability in person.

"It's not a shock to anybody," Barry said. "It was just delayed a little because of his injuries. ... Wow. What I saw firsthand was amazing. He put on a show. I'm happy for him. He seems like a guy who works hard, and he has worked hard to come back from his two injuries."

[Last modified December 22, 2006, 00:51:45]