News & Observer | newsobserver.com | 2008 NCAA Men's Bracket

When Canes forward Justin Williams tore his Achilles tendon almost nine weeks ago, the best-case scenario seemed to be a February return. But Williams believes he may bump that date up at least a month.

Williams has been working diligently off the ice to rehab the injury. He also began skating at the RBC Center in individual workouts.

"When I was on the ice it was kind of off-balance a little bit," Williams said today. "That's going to be my main problem to work on -- balance.

"Fortunately for me it gets better every day. It's progressing as well as I could have hoped. I want to get back as fast as I can but as safely as I can, too."

Williams said the injury was like "the carpet being swept right out from under you." He was coming off a major knee injury last season and felt he was as well-conditioned as possible heading into training camp.

Initially, he said, he thought the Achilles tear was a season-ending injury. But he noted it's not a prototypical NHL injury, so there wasn't much medical precedence to use as a guide as to the time of rehab and recovery.

"The good news is I'm able to skate and I feel good and it's not hurting me at all," he said.