By Tim Graham
Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams said his left wrist already feels "way better" after having arthroscopic surgery last week and declared he will play against his former team Sunday.
"I'm not missing anything," Williams said. "This is to get better. This is to have healing occur, which wasn't happening before."
Williams spoke with reporters today for the first time since word surfaced he was having surgery. He said he decided to have surgery after consultation with the Bills' medical staff.
"I just had it cleaned up," Williams said. "From whenever I got injured earlier on in the year, a bunch of junk and stuff that was in there. That was the reason I couldn't have any motion."
The vague injury had been nagging him since the final preseason game even though it didn't appear on the injury report until a couple weeks ago. Williams revealed today the initial diagnosis was for full recovery in four to six weeks but that it never got better.
Williams explained he decided to have surgery during the Bills' bye week to "put me in a position to work out and use my hand more adequately. That was the biggest thing as far as me feeling comfortable."
He said the incision is the only discomfort he feels and that he will continue to wear a cast over the wrist.
The Bills signed Williams in March to a six-year contract worth as much as $100 million. He has blamed the wrist injury for production that hasn't matched the investment. Williams has 3.5 sacks this season, tying him for 38th in the NFL.
"I'm a hands-on person," Williams said. "Everything I do is with my hands. Not being able to do that, just mentally, has been frustrating. I felt like I was stagnant.
"This isn't me. I never had something where it lingered this long. It was either season-ending or it goes over in a week. It's been almost nine weeks now. It's been tough."
Williams will return to Reliant Stadium on Sunday to play the Houston Texans, who have done well without him. The Texans have the NFL's third-ranked defense. J.J. Watt leads the league with 9.5 sacks.
