Mike Williams of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not practice after his arrest on a DUI charge early Friday, but Coach Raheem Morris said the rookie who leads the team in receiving will travel to San Francisco and play Sunday against the 49ers.
The fourth-round draft pick from Syracuse was arrested after Florida authorities said they saw his black Cadillac Escalade speeding and weaving in and out of traffic about 2:30 a.m.
Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputies said the 23-year-old’s eyes were glassy and that Williams smelled of alcohol when they pulled him over.
According to a breath test, Williams had a .065 blood-alcohol level, which is below Florida’s .08 legal limit. The receiver was released on $500 bond.
Authorities can conduct a DUI investigation if they see signs of impairment and can make an arrest regardless of blood-alcohol or urine test results, sheriff’s spokesman Larry McKinnon said.
Williams, who has started every game this season, also submitted to a urine test, but McKinnon said the toxicology results could take four to six weeks.
“I’m very disappointed about the decision he made to be out late, and the worse decision he made to have a drink and drive,” Morris said. He add that that after “gathering all the facts” he made the decision to allow Williams to travel with the team late Friday.
Tennessee offensive tackle David Stewart was fined $20,000 by the NFL for unnecessarily hitting an opponent late. He is a repeat offender, leading to the heavy fine. Pittsburgh linebacker LaMarr Woodley was docked $12,500 for roughing New England quarterback Tom Brady, and Tampa Bay safety Cody Grimm was fined $7,500 for unnecessary roughness for hitting defenseless Carolina receiver Dante Rosario in the head and neck area.
New York Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery was ruled out of Sunday’s game against Houston because of a groin injury that has kept him from practicing all week.
Clinton Portis is set to return for Washington on Sunday against Tennessee after sitting out five games because of a torn left groin.
