Bucs not sure if Cadillac will be ready to go Sunday

TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie star Carnell Williams may be limited in practice this week because of a sore hamstring and foot sprain.

Coach Jon Gruden stressed Monday it was too early to say if the rookie running back will play against the New York Jets.

"If he's ready to go, he'll play," Gruden reiterated. "All I can say is the doctors will let us know. Carnell's going to let us know."

Williams sat out the fourth quarter of Sunday's 17-13 victory over the Detroit Lions after he " felt something tweak" in his left hamstring earlier in the second half.

He was held to 13 yards on 11 attempts after rushing for an NFL-leading 434 yards the previous three weeks and becoming the first player in league history to begin his career with three consecutive 100-yard games.

Gruden conceded the Bucs are "a little concerned" about what the coach described as a mild hamstring injury, as well as lingering discomfort in Williams' left foot, which the running back sprained on Sept. 18.

The foot injury kept Williams from practicing the last two weeks. Gruden was awaiting word whether the fifth pick in this year's draft will be able to practice Wednesday.

"I have been frustrated, as has he, with the last couple weeks. The foot injury has been persistent. It is getting better, but how much better I really don't know," Gruden said. "We're going to put him in a boot today, take the boot off (Tuesday) and see how he feels."

If Williams can't play against the Jets, he will be replaced by Michael Pittman, who against the Lions caught six passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for a team-high 30 yards on five carries.

When Williams hurt his foot in the first half of Tampa Bay's victory over Buffalo two weeks ago, the rookie insisted on returning to the game. He didn't make as strong a case for continuing against the Lions.

"I think he felt not at his best," Gruden said. "I think he also felt Pittman was holding (up) pretty good."

Williams was unavailable for comment Monday.

After Sunday's game, he raised the possibility the hamstring problem might be related to him compensating for the foot sprain. He said he wanted to go back into the game, but the coaching staff ruled it out.

"I couldn't force my will on them," Williams said.

Gruden said trainer Todd Toriscelli made the determination.

"He thought it would be best for him to sit the rest of the game and try to get right for next week," Gruden said. "We don't really know the severity of this hamstring. It might just be a contusion of some kind. ... We're meeting with him at this time and I can't speculate publicly any more until Carnell and the doctors have had a chance to look at this further."