Dolphins RB Williams has surgery

Nov 29, 2007 - 9:27 PM MIAMI (Ticker) -- Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams underwent surgery on Thursday to repair a torn right pectoral muscle that will force him to miss the rest of the season.

The procedure was performed by team physician Dr. George Caldwell at Broward General Medical Center.

Williams, who was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, suffered the injury on his fifth carry in Monday night's 3-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It was the first game back for Williams after not playing for a year a half because of repeated violations of the NFL's drug policy.

The injury occurred after Williams, who suited up after only a week of practice and gained 15 yards on six carries, fumbled and was stepped on by a Pittsburgh defender in the second quarter on Monday.

It's the latest chapter of Williams inability to stay on the playing field. The 5-10, 228-pounder, who's rushed for 7,112 yards on 1,763 carries in seven seasons with New Orleans and the Dolphins, was suspended by the league for one year on October 16, 2006, for his fourth offense due to a positive test for marijuana.

The fifth overall pick by New Orleans in 1999, after the Saints traded eight picks to the Washington Redskins for the right to select the former Heisman Trophy winner, Williams stunned the football world when he announced his retirement during Dolphins training camp in July 2004.

Williams, who missed the first four games of the 2005 season due to suspension, was also fined for second and third violations of the substance abuse program in December 2003 and in the 2004 offseason, respectively. The native of San Diego came back in 2005 to rush for 743 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games.

To take his spot on the roster the team signed running back Samkon Gado on Wednesday.