Cadillac Williams stepped onto the practice field with his teammates Wednesday morning for the first time since suffering a devastating knee injury 13 months ago.

Williams, who tore the patellar tendon in his right knee against the Carolina Panthers last Sept., has been on the Physically Unable to Perform list. He has at least three weeks before the team has to decide whether to activate him to the 53-man roster or place him on Injured Reserve.

Williams has no doubt that he will play this season.   

"I do still feel the same way,'' Williams said. "I said way back I definitely felt like I was going to play. It's here. Now it's just a matter of me going out and doing it.''

Williams participated in the walk-through Wednesday morning and was at practice in the afternoon, catching passes from quarterback Jeff Garcia.

The biggest hurdle, Williams said, will be to overcome his fear of cutting and receiving contact.

"I've never been out there with guys flying around and running at me,'' Williams said. "I'm still excited to see how I react off of that, making guys miss here or there. Not just doing it off of bags and cutting.

"To me it's more in my mind now, just to know it's okay. I've already put it through a lot. I'm able to do everything without a problem. Now it's just me overcoming it mentally.''