Two weeks ago Bills safety Aaron Williams stood in front of his locker and acknowledged he didn't know if he'd ever play football again.
For the second time in as many seasons, the former Texas Longhorn star suffered a head and neck injury, this one the result of a blind-side, crack-back block from Miami receiver Jarvis Landry in Buffalo's Week 7 loss to the Dolphins.
He suffered his first injury in the Bills' Week 2 loss to New England during the 2015 season, while diving to tackle Julian Edelman.
"I don’t know yet," Williams told reporters regarding his future on Jan. 2.
"It’s been back and forth with, ‘yeah I’m going to play this year,’ to, ‘man I feel good not playing.’ I’ve been doing it for so long it’s pretty much all I known. Change can be scary sometimes but this offseason made me realize how precious life really is.
"Getting carted off again into an ambulance, into an emergency room, having your family being stressed and worrying about my health, it was very frustrating. It’s one of those things where I don’t want to make an irrational decision, just coming back here today and seeing all the guys and being happy to be here and then making a decision, “yeah, I’ll be here,” but then maybe two weeks later they say, “your health isn’t—we can’t do it. I’m going to go upstairs and communicate with the guys and see how long it will take before I get a final decision."
But, the Associated Press reported Sunday, Williams is leaning toward resuming his career and is expected to "announce his decision soon," according to his father, Anthony Williams.
Father of #Bills safety Aaron Williams tells AP son leaning toward returning. Will announce decision soon.https://t.co/9ecPGHlh43
— John Wawrow (@john_wawrow) January 15, 2017
The 26 year old safety has played his entire career in Buffalo, after being drafted by the franchise in the second round of the 2011 draft.
He signed a four-year extension with the club prior to the 2014 season and is due to become an unrestricted free agent in 2019.
Williams been the heart, soul and emotional leader for the Bills defense, and his absence was felt in 2015 and 2016 as the Bills secondary struggled with communication and overall play with him out of the lineup.
"Just being with my family, talking to some of my teammates, talking to my coaches, talking to—it’s everything," Williams said during locker clean out earlier this month. "Saying my prayers, just realizing what’s important in life. I know football is very important to me, but how important is it to my future?"
Williams' father also posted on Twitter about Aaron returning to the Bills and helping bring an end to a 17-year postseason drought.
Tim, excited about the new HC and Aaron coming back to be part of the team that finally brings playoffs and a SB to the deserving BLO fans. https://t.co/PTCfdGEUvy
— Anthony Williams (@AWilliamsUSA) January 15, 2017
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