[Cadillac Williams leaves One Buc Place on crutches on Monday morning. Brian Cassella, Times]

RB Cadillac Williams was encouraged by the early diagnosis of his injured left knee.

Williams suffered a torn patellar tendon Sunday, but this time, the tendon tore away from the bone rather than rupturing. That, Williams said, requires a shorter recovery time and apparently is more easily repaired. The hope is he'll be back on the field in time to participate in training camp next year.

Former Bucs receiver Mark Jones suffered a similar injury last season and returned to become the Panthers' leading kick and punt returner this fall.

"If it's the way it's been explained, it's more like the Mark Jones tear," Williams said. "After six to eight weeks, he was rolling. Right now, I'm just hoping for the best. I'll go ahead and have surgery and look forward to rehab."

It was feared that Williams may have suffered a ruptured patellar tendon like he did last season in his right knee. That injury kept him off the field for nearly 14 months until his return in November.

Still, this injury is still a setback for Williams, who looked like he was nearing his old form.

"It's tough," he said. "I was getting a few carries here and there and starting to feel like my old self. My right knee, which is now my good knee, was feeling good. It's just a freak accident. Right now, I have no luck."