Williams lost for rest of season

ST. LOUIS -- Rams cornerback Aeneas Williams will miss the rest of the season after having surgery to stabilize torn ligaments in his badly sprained left ankle.

Williams also broke his left shin with 1:46 to play in St. Louis' game Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks when teammate Adam Archuleta rolled over him.

The recovery period typically is four-to-six months, team physician Dr. Matt Matava said Monday. Matava said Williams should regain mobility in about two months.

The Rams don't believe the injury threatens the career of the 34-year-old Williams.

"It's obviously a season-ender, but not typically a career-ender," Matava said.

During the 20-minute operation Sunday night, a screw was inserted into Williams' ankle to compress bones that separated and to promote healing in the ligaments. The broken bone in his leg will heal on its own, Matava said.

Williams, a seven-time Pro Bowl pick, missed the first game of his career two weeks ago when turf toe sidelined him against the 49ers. He was in tears as he was carted off the sideline.

Matava said Williams told him he'd had only one other operation in his career, an elective arthroscopic procedure on a knee.

"He told me nothing like this has ever happened before," Matava said. "Here he is, being taken off a cart, and I think he was upset."

Doctors believe Williams' foot rotated outward as he fell down attempting to make a tackle. When Archuleta rolled over on him, Williams told doctors he felt or heard a popping sound.

Play was stopped for several minutes, and players from both teams surrounded Williams. He was helped onto a cart by two teammates.