ESPN NFL

Updated: December 6, 2005, 10:50 AM ET

Wrist injury to sideline Williams for rest of '05

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By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

For the second time in two weeks the Tennessee Titans have lost one of the three wide receivers they selected in the 2005 draft, as Roydell Williams will be placed on injured reserve after undergoing surgery Monday to repair a dislocated and fractured right wrist.

Roydell Williams

Wide Receiver Tennessee Titans Profile

2005 SEASON STATISTICS Rec Yds TD Avg Long YAC 21 299 2 14.2 50 62

Williams sustained the injury in Sunday's loss at Indianapolis, after making a catch in the second quarter and being tackled by Colts safety Mike Doss.

The Titans were forced to place fellow rookie wide receiver Brandon Jones on injured reserve last week after he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the team's Nov. 27 game against San Francisco. That leaves third-round choice Courtney Roby as the only remaining member of the wide receiver draft class, a trio around whom the Titans will, in part, build for the future.

Coach Jeff Fisher said that, unlike Jones, who could miss part of the offseason program and perhaps even the start of training camp, Williams should be recovered in time for the offseason activities. Doctors inserted a pin into Williams' forearm and that likely will be removed in six to eight weeks.

"This is not an injury that will keep him out of the offseason program," Fisher said. "He'll come back and he'll be fine."

A former Tulane standout, Williams was drafted in the fourth round, the last of the three wide receivers Tennessee selected in April. He started in two of his 10 appearances and finished his rookie season with 21 catches for 299 yards and two touchdowns. Williams had two receptions for 34 yards Sunday.

The injury comes as Williams was beginning to show solid progress. He recorded just two catches in the first six games of the season, but his playing time increased after that, and so did his production. Fisher acknowledged he was disappointed Williams would not be able to complete the season, but allowed that the Titans coaches had gotten a good evaluation of the young wide receiver.

In 48 college appearances, Williams had 215 receptions for 3,207 yards and 35 scores.

Tennessee coaches feel that all three rookie wide receivers, along with young veterans Drew Bennett and Tyrone Calico, will provide them a solid nucleus at the position for the next several seasons.

Jones likely faces a rehabilitation stint of nine months for the ACL tear, sustained when he made a sharp cut, provided there are no complications. The former Oklahoma star finished his rookie season with 23 catches for 299 yards and two touchdowns. He had five receptions of 20 yards or more and 18 of his catches were for first downs.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. To check out Len's chat archive, click here .