

Washington Redskins tackle Trent Williams, center, battled injury for much of last season. (Patrick Semansky/Associated Press)

Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams revealed on Wednesday that the left ankle that he injured in the season finale against Dallas has yet to completely heal. As a result, he has yet to take part in any of the Redskins’ offseason practice sessions.

Wednesday represented the first practice session of the week that the team opened to reporters. Williams wasn’t at last Tuesday’s practice because floods in the Houston area forced the cancellation of his flight to Dulles the night before.

Williams on Wednesday was nowhere to be seen as the Redskins went through the stretching and individual-drill portion of practice. He appeared shortly before team drills began, but wore team-issued workout clothes.

Williams initially was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain in his left foot. He aggravated the injury during the week of Pro Bowl practices and had to sit out the game.

Tackle Trent Williams is taken off the field after an injury during the second half of the Dec. 28 season finale against Dallas. (Mark Tenally/Associated Press)

Williams said Wednesday that during the first four months of the offseason, he did his best to baby the ankle, even changing up his training program – increasing the amount of boxing he does to avoid running. But when the team began the offseason conditioning program in late April, and Williams resumed running, he observed that his ankle remained sore. So, he flew to Charlotte to see noted foot specialist Robert Anderson.

Anderson’s findings pinpointed that Williams’s injury was actually a torn deltoid ligament. No surgery is needed. But the treatment Williams now is receiving is specifically designed to strengthen that ligament and help the tackle to fully heal by the start of training camp.

“It’s been an ongoing thing and my mind-set was to get it 100 percent before we go into camp,” Williams said. “Obviously, didn’t want any setbacks in OTAs. I want it 100 percent so I can put it behind me and give my team the best.

“We got it pinpointed to what exactly it is. It’s encouraging that we’ve got the right plan,” Williams added. “Training camp is probably the most vital thing that I need to be ready for.”

With Williams out, Tom Compton started at left tackle for the second straight week. Williams said despite being injured, it’s important to be around his teammates and contribute in any way possible. He said for the time being, he serves as an additional coach of sorts.

“Trying to shed knowledge to the young guys, and hopefully they can understand where I’m coming from and take heed to it,” he chuckled.

Williams was noticeably slimmer than at the end of the season, and he said that’s because lost 20 pounds. During the season, Williams had allowed his weight to get up to 345 pounds. The heavier weight, plus injuries limited his effectiveness, he admitted.

Williams said cleaning up his diet – particularly eliminating late-night snacking – made the biggest difference for him during his weight-loss quest. Aware that he wouldn’t be able to run because of his ankle, he knew that his diet would have to change.

Now lighter, and once fully healed, Williams expects to make a larger impact this season.

“I wasn’t as dynamic as I was accustomed to,” Williams said. “Obviously, having a shoulder, having a knee, having an ankle, all that stuff kind of made me stay in the box and play fundamental football. Now I can kind of get back to chasing those back-side linebackers down, back-side safeties.”

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