EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams is impatient. He's planning to do everything in his power to be ready for this Sunday's playoff game against Philadelphia.
Coach Brad Childress said Monday that Williams will "try to make that push to this weekend" but was noncommittal about whether the three-time Pro Bowl pick would be able to suit up for the Eagles game.
"We'll just have to see what his functional strength is like as he gets out there and goes through the week," Childress said.
Williams, who had a four-game suspension for a banned diuretic tabled earlier this month in court, broke a bone in his right shoulder against Arizona on Dec. 14. He was clearly missed the last two weeks, particularly in Sunday's 20-19 win over New York in which the Giants rushed for 135 yards.
Watching that drove Williams crazy, too.
"Last week I about busted my TV," he said after the game. "This week, I about pulled my hair out on the sideline. ... They need me, because in the playoffs if you can't run the ball you can't win."
The Vikings allowed the fewest yards rushing in the NFL for the third straight season. Until his injury, Williams had played in 110 consecutive games.
"I'm confident I'm coming back," he said. "I'm going to rehab twice every day."
Defensive end Ray Edwards hurt his left knee against the Giants, but Childress had no update on his condition.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
