The Trent Williams saga has taken another turn. Earlier Thursday, Williams told Les Carpenter of the Washington Post that the growth on his head had turned out to be a cancerous tumor, and he blamed the Washington organization for not recognizing the seriousness of the issue sooner. Now, Washington has issued a press release indicating it wants a third-party review of Williams’ medical records, ostensibly to remove any blame placed on the organization.
Williams first noticed the growth in 2013, but he says Redskins doctors told him the issue was not severe. However, he’s since been diagnosed with Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP), a “soft tissue sarcoma that develops in the deep layers of the skin.” This offseason, Washington sent Williams to a hospital where the condition was finally recognized, and he had an operation during the winter to remove the growth.
The most pressing issue here is clearly Williams’ long-term health, but it’s difficult to avoid how Williams’ latest revelation — and Washington’s response — will further fracture the relationship between team and player. Washington failed to trade Williams before Tuesday’s deadline, and the veteran offensive tackle subsequently reported to the club. However, he failed his physical after his helmet gave him discomfort. If the team can’t find Williams a helmet in the next two weeks, he’s likely to be placed on the non-football injury list, ending his season.
