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Rainer Sabin / Reporter
It's been quite the journey for Teddy Williams. On Tuesday, he replaced Tony Romo on the active roster after the franchise quarterback was assigned to injured reserve.
Williams, 22, hasn't played in a game of consequence since his days at Tyler John Tyler High School, where he fractured his ankle in the fourth game of his senior season in 2005. At the time, Williams thought that was the end of his football career.
"Going into college," he said, "I thought I would just run track."
Williams did, excelling in the sport. He was a star sprinter at Texas-San Antonio and completed a 100-meter race in a wind-aided 9.90 seconds.
"When I was running track I was truly focused on track but in the back of my mind I knew football would have my heart," Williams said. "I used to watch television with my family and my girlfriend and think, Man I miss it. But I always was telling myself if football presents itself again I was going to take the opportunity and run with it."
That opportunity came last summer, when his speed caught the eye of the Cowboys' scouts. The team then signed Williams on July 29.
"We loved his speed but we also liked his body, how big he is, how physical he is," Cowboys interim coach Jason Garrett said. "He plays more like a football player than maybe a track guy, and I want to say that delicately."
Originally positioned at defensive back on practice squad, Williams, who stands 6-3 and weighs 198 pounds, was moved to wide receiver last week.
Now, five years after he last played in a game that counted, Williams has a chance to return to the field at an NFL stadium. It's quite a story. For Williams, though, it's more than that.
"It's a blessing," he said.
It's been quite the journey for Teddy Williams. On Tuesday, he replaced Tony Romo on the active roster after the franchise quarterback was assigned to injured reserve.
Williams, 22, hasn't played in a game of consequence since his days at Tyler John Tyler High School, where he fractured his ankle in the fourth game of his senior season in 2005. At the time, Williams thought that was the end of his football career.
"Going into college," he said, "I thought I would just run track."
Williams did, excelling in the sport. He was a star sprinter at Texas-San Antonio and completed a 100-meter race in a wind-aided 9.90 seconds.
"When I was running track I was truly focused on track but in the back of my mind I knew football would have my heart," Williams said. "I used to watch television with my family and my girlfriend and think, Man I miss it. But I always was telling myself if football presents itself again I was going to take the opportunity and run with it."
That opportunity came last summer, when his speed caught the eye of the Cowboys' scouts. The team then signed Williams on July 29.
"We loved his speed but we also liked his body, how big he is, how physical he is," Cowboys interim coach Jason Garrett said. "He plays more like a football player than maybe a track guy, and I want to say that delicately."
Originally positioned at defensive back on practice squad, Williams, who stands 6-3 and weighs 198 pounds, was moved to wide receiver last week.
Now, five years after he last played in a game that counted, Williams has a chance to return to the field at an NFL stadium. It's quite a story. For Williams, though, it's more than that.
"It's a blessing," he said.