Carnell Williams took another big step in his attempt to return from a serious knee injury he suffered over one year ago when he was activated to Tampa Bay's 53-man roster on Wednesday.

What will his role be now that he's a member of Tampa Bay's active roster again? Williams said he will leave that decision to the coaching staff and trainers.

“I’m definitely leaning on the coaches,” said Williams. “I’m just out here trying hard and doing whatever I can to help our team win. In terms of how much I play, that’s on the coaches.

“It will be challenging mentally, just having guys flying around and trying to hit you. I think it’s just a matter of me beating the mental part of it and knowing that my knee is okay.”

In order to make room for Williams on their 53-man roster, the Bucs released RB Michael Bennett. Bennett appeared in 13 games with the Bucs, rushing 48 times for 201 yards (4.1 avg.) and a touchdown. He was rarely used on game days and even inactive for several games in 2008.

"He did participate," Bucs head coach Jon Gruden said of Bennett. "He started a game. When we brought him here we had a rash of injuries. Earnest Graham did a great job. We got Bennett in Week 6. I like Michael Bennett. We just can't keep five halfbacks. Clifton Smith is going to be a player for us. Warrick Dunn is one hell of a back. Earnest Graham has proven to everybody that he's a real back, and when you add Carnell Williams to the mix sometimes numbers are what they are. I wish Mike the best. He did one heck of a job working here. He'll get claimed and he'll do a good job. I wish him the best."

A 2005 first-round draft pick and NFL Rookie of the Year, Williams sustained a torn patellar tendon in Week 4 of the 2007 season. He was placed on injured reserve and spent training camp and the first half of the 2008 regular season on the physically unable to perform list.

Williams has rushed for 2,184 yards (3.8 avg.) and 10 touchdowns in his 32 starts with the Buccaneers. He has also caught 53 career passes for 294 yards.

The Bucs are expected to work Williams back into action with a running back-by-committee approach that already features Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn, who have rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and five touchdowns in 2008.

"This is a process," said Gruden. "It was a terrible injury and a tremendous story in terms of what he's done. His role today was to carry the ball 30 times and emulate Adrian Peterson. Monday was the first time he had been hit since last year in Carolina. I don't expect him to be a feature back this week and I don't know about game day activations at this point. We're just going to try to get him back. We've studied it and done the right thing. His role this Sunday is to be announced. It's a process.

“I want to see how he feels tomorrow. Let’s see if he can carry it 25-30 times tomorrow. Let’s just make sure everything is working the way it’s supposed to work.”

Williams' return from the devastating knee injury has caught the attention of his teammates, who are happy to have him back.

“It’s exciting to see Cadillac returning in a sense that he’s worked extremely hard,” Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia said. “He’s had a tough injury that he’s had to overcome. He’s had to overcome a couple tough injuries. The work that he’s put in, the effort he’s put in is something to really appreciate and grasp a hold of. The guy has dedicated himself for the last year trying to get back to this point. We’re going to embrace him and welcome him back. It’s exciting to see him back on the field carrying the football. It adds another dimension if he is active. It adds another dimension to our running game.

“I think he has looked explosive. I think he’s been extremely fast. He looks to be making his cuts without worrying about the injury. I think that’s the biggest thing for him – the mental part of getting over the injury and cut and slash and do all of the things that you used to do. Getting hit on that knee and knowing that it’s going to be stable for him. That’s the biggest issue. He looks like he’s physically back to where he was before.”

Tampa Bay made a few other roster moves Wednesday. In addition to releasing Bennett, whom the team traded a sixth-round pick to Kansas City for during the 2007 regular season, the Bucs promoted wide receiver Brian Clark from the practice squad to the active roster.

This is Clark's second stint on Tampa Bay's active roster this season. He played in three games and had one reception for 12 yards.

In order to make room for Clark on their 53-man roster, the Bucs placed WR Maurice Stovall on injured reserve. This marks the second straight year Stovall has finished a season on IR. The 2006 third-round draft pick was attempting to come back from a hamstring injury. Clark is expected to help fill the void left by Stovall on special teams, where he has two tackles.

Tampa Bay filled the open spot on its practice squad by signing linebacker Marc Magro, who has been a member of the practice squads in Miami and St. Louis this season.

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