Teammates Happy For Cadillac Ira Kaufman, The Tampa Tribune, published 24 November 2008 The start was inauspicious, to say the least, but try telling any Buccaneer that Cadillac Williams did anything wrong Sunday. Fourteen months after suffering a devastating knee injury at Carolina, Tampa Bay's fourth-year RB returned to an NFL field and helped inspire the Bucs to a 38-20 triumph against the winless Lions. "I was excited and nervous for Caddy at the same time," Bucs DL Jimmy Wilkerson said. "I can't wait to see what he does the rest of the year." Williams entered the game 10 minutes into the opening quarter and lined up behind FB B.J. Askew on first down from midfield. When QB Jeff Garcia and Williams collided in the backfield on a designed pass play, Lions S Daniel Bullocks pounced on the subsequent fumble and ran 44 yards to give Detroit a 14-0 lead. If Williams was dejected at that point, the blues didn't last long as Tampa Bay soon assumed control. With the Bucs comfortably ahead, Williams replaced Warrick Dunn as the featured back and carried 12 times in the fourth quarter alone, finishing with 27 yards in 16 attempts. Nobody in the Buc locker room, including the man himself, appeared too concerned about Williams' paltry average of 1.7 yards per carry. "I wanted so much to get Caddy into the end zone on our final drive," C Jeff Faine said of a march that reached the Lions 18. "It was terrific just to see him back out on the football field." Williams appeared rusty at times, but he could end up playing a key role down the stretch with Earnest Graham sidelined with a season-ending ankle injury. "The odds on me playing this year weren't good at all," Williams said. "I'm sore and I'm proud. It feels so good just to be out there again. I was counting my blessings to be back on the field."