Mike Williams Injury: Updates on Clemson WR's Neck and Recovery

Clemson Tigers wide receiver Mike Williams is working his way back from a neck injury that forced him to miss nearly the entire 2015 season. 

Continue for updates. 

---

Dabo Swinney Comments on Williams’ Progress

Monday, Feb. 29

Williams has been cleared for football activities as the Tigers opened spring practice Monday, per Tony Crumpton of TigerNet.com.     

Head coach Dabo Swinney elaborated on the approach Clemson is taking with the star receiver this spring, per Crumpton:

"

He is going to do everything. We are just not going to tackle him to the ground. He is going to do all the 1 on 1's, all the skelly, all the team pass. He is going to do everything we do. We are just not going to tackle him so we when we go scrimmage he will not scrimmage. He will be in a green jersey. He looks great. He is doing everything and he is cleared to do everything. If we were playing this spring he could play, but really we just want to kind of get his confidence back where it needs to be and when we get back in camp he will be full go.

"

Williams suffered a neck fracture in the Tigers’ season opener against Wofford and missed the remainder of Clemson’s run to its first ACC title since 2011 and a College Football Playoff berth. 

The third-year wideout’s head violently collided with the goal post when hauling in a touchdown catch, as shown by the ACC Network:    

Because his injury occurred so early in the season, Williams is likely a candidate for a medical redshirt, which would leave him two years of eligibility. 

Williams led the Tigers with 1,030 receiving yards in 2014 and was a member of last year’s preseason All-ACC team. Clemson certainly missed the former 4-star recruit, but it made do with a dense arsenal in his stead, as five Tigers receivers each tallied at least 30 receptions, 490 yards and five touchdowns in 2015. 

But the Tigers will be giddy to get back their former top wideout this fall as they make another run at the national title following one of the most remarkable campaigns in school history.

It’s smart Swinney plans to limit Williams this spring, as it isn't worth rushing back this far ahead of the season after an injury of such severity. 

Star rankings courtesy of 247Sports.