JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jaguars receiver Reggie Williams will have arthroscopic surgery after re-injuring his right knee during training camp, the third setback in two weeks for Jacksonville.
Williams initially hurt his knee working out last week and opened camp on the physically unable to perform list. He was activated Tuesday and returned to practice, but tweaked his knee during the evening session. He made a spin move following a catch and then limped off the field. He was examined by team trainers and then carted to the locker room for tests.
Coach Jack Del Rio said Wednesday that Williams damaged cartilage in his knee. He expected the former first-round pick to make a full recovery, but declined to offer a timetable for his return.
"He is going to need a little clean-out with some cartilage," Del Rio said. "He should return to form. I'll give you a timeframe once I get one. I don't want to guess, but he will need to have that procedure done and then rehab and get back to full speed."
The ninth overall selection in 2004, Williams had his most productive season last year. Although he caught just 38 passes, he averaged 16.6 yards a catch and had 10 touchdowns.
His injury was the third significant one for the Jaguars in the last two weeks.
Jerry Porter, who signed a six-year, $30 million contract in February to be the team's No. 1 receiver, had surgery July 18 to repair a torn hamstring and will miss at least the entire preseason.
Center Brad Meester, who has started all but nine games the last eight seasons for Jacksonville, injured his right biceps Sunday and could be out even longer.
Meester traveled to Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday to get evaluated by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, but Del Rio said he had no update on his injury.
"Obviously, we are working through some injuries like everybody is around the NFL, and we're being smart about the way we're working our team," Del Rio said. "The guys that are banged up, we'll just work as hard as we can to get them rehabbed and back on the field as soon as possible."
Del Rio said he didn't expect to bring in another receiver -- at least for now. But Jacksonville clearly has issues at that position.
Not only are Porter and Williams out, but Dennis Northcutt (back) and Mike Walker (knee) missed practice time last week. And former first-round pick Matt Jones is facing a felony drug charge in Arkansas.
With Meester out indefinitely, the Jaguars worked out veteran guard Chris Liwienski on Wednesday. Liwienski started 14 games for Miami last year and has 93 starts the last seven seasons.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
