In a way, Daryl Williams' rookie year ended as soon as it began.
Just as Graham Gano's 43-yard field goal sailed through the uprights for the first three of a Carolina Panthers' record 500-point season, Jaguars' defensive end Chris Clemons fell on the back of Williams' right leg. It was a freak moment that ended with trainers escorting him off the field.
Because Williams watched the rest of the half with ice wrapped around his knee, it appeared the first snap of his NFL career may have been the only play of his rookie year.
An MRI the next morning revealed some good news — it wasn't a tear. But nearly two months passed until the fourth-round pick returned from a sprained MCL.
After Williams played five special teams snaps against the Colts, it took two more weeks for him to debut on offense as part of the Panthers' jumbo package at Tennessee.
Of the nine offensive linemen who saw snaps in Carolina last season, Williams' 83 were the fewest.
When asked about his rookie year after a recent offseason workout, Williams replied:
"Overall I think I did good — other than getting hurt."
Well, it's not like that was something he controlled. And neither was a recovery process that took longer than the original 2- to 4-week estimate.
"Health is a relative issue at the NFL level," Panthers' offensive line coach Ray Brown said. "They rehab you to get you back to be able to practice, but that whole time you're still getting healthy in that process while you're trying to make the blocks and while you're trying to work on your techniques.
"He came in this year with a clean slate of health."
And a clearer head.
"Last year I didn't really know that much," Williams admitted, "a rookie just running around with my head cut off. But I know everything better, so it feels way easier than last year."
That doesn't mean it is easier, or that he's destined for the spot many assumed he'd inherit after the Super Bowl.
Right tackle Mike Remmers appeared to help Broncos' outside linebacker Von Miller earn an MVP trophy during that game, but Panthers' general manager Dave Gettleman and coach Ron Rivera insisted there was more than meets the commoner's eye. They vowed Remmers would keep his starting spot this spring, and neither he nor Williams did much to change minds sentiment during offseason practices.
"I think he needs to push his conditioning a little," Brown said, revealing one of two reservations the Panthers have had with Williams.
The other: pass protection. And that helps explain why Williams, who's built like a brick house and 30 pounds heavier than Remmers, isn't yet ready for a starting role.
"[Williams] is a run blocker," Brown continued. "So now it becomes a thing of, OK, we know you have run blocking ability. This is a passing league, so we can teach you pass protection. And I think he's learning. The young man is smart and he's versatile."
Instead of replacing Remmers with Williams, the Panthers spent the spring plugging the 23-year-old in across the line. Not only did he get some looks at left tackle, but he also jumped in at both guard spots.
"He's a lineman," Brown said when asked if Williams' future is at right or left tackle.
But it was Williams' reaction after he wrapped up a minicamp practice at left tackle that made Brown smile. And it wasn't just because the 6-foot-5, 335-pounder looks the part.
"He's like, 'Wow, coach, I've got to go in my room and do my pass set," Brown recalled. "He said it instead of the coach coming to say, "Young man, you've got to get your pass set reps.'
"So he's taking ownership of it."
Despite the wishes of many fans since the Super Bowl, Remmers still owns a starting job. It's in everyone's best interest if Williams develops into a guy who's more than just a right tackle.