Williams announced his retirement from professional football Wednesday in a post on The Players' Tribune.

EDGE Analysis

A second-round pick in 2011, Williams played all six of his NFL seasons with the Bills, starting 52 of 59 career games and accruing 184 tackles, seven interceptions and two forced fumbles. The 27-year-old didn't play anywhere in 2017 after he couldn't find a doctor that would clear him following the serious neck injury he suffered in a 2016 contest.

Williams (neck) has been released by the Bills, ESPN's Mike Rodak reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Bills are revamping their secondary with a new coaching staff in town, while Williams doesn't know if he can continue with his career following several scary neck injuries that have kept him out of 22 games over the last two seasons. With Stephon Gilmore signing with New England, the Bills will likely take secondary player with one of their first two draft picks, with receiver being the other glaring need.

Williams, who's lost much of the last two seasons due to scary next injuries, may be leaning towards continuing his pro career, BuffaloBills.com reports. "He's leaning toward coming back," Williams' father said in a phone interview with the Associated Press. "We'll take it slow and go from there."

EDGE Analysis

Doctors have cleared Williams to play again. The Bills have all kinds of issues with their defense, including a new coaching staff coming in, but a healthy Williams would go a long way toward solidifying the secondary, as the team never found a suitable replacement once Williams went down for the season in Week 7.

Williams, whose season ended after Week 7 due to another neck injury, hasn't decided yet if he will continue his career, BuffaloBlls.com reports. "I'm still not sure yet," said Williams. "I've been back and forth myself. There will be days where I want to come back and there are other days where I wake up and feel great being healthy and not hurting. I still have a little more time to think about it. This is a decision where I can't rush into it. I love this game and I love everything it has done for me and my family. At the same time I have to look out for my health."

EDGE Analysis

Williams has had a bad beat with scary neck injuries to the point where he's almost been forced out of football, so we can understand if he and his family are hesitant to resume things once he's cleared for activities again. Williams is reportedly healthy, and plans to meet with management to see how much time he has before giving the Bills a definitive answer so the team can solidify its offseason plans.

The Bills designating Sammy Watkins as their one player to return from injured reserve officially rules out Williams (neck) for the rest of the campaign.

EDGE Analysis

Williams would have been a long shot anyway, as no one has a true timetable on his return and his injury is scary enough that at this point everyone's just hoping he can play football again. One thing that's clear -- the Bills' defensive backfield has struggled to replace him, as Robert Blanton hasn't cut it and the team is now looking at any option that can even capably fill Williams' starting spot.

The Bills have placed Williams (neck) on injured reserve.

EDGE Analysis

Williams will now see back-to-back seasons possibly end prematurely and in scary fashion, as the team and player now evaluate whether he can and should continue his football career. We'll at least note the Bills (and more specifically GM Doug Whaley) have left the door open for him to return this season, though we have to assume the team will be using that one-time designation for Sammy Watkins. Unfortunately, it was a high cheap shot from Miami's Jarvis Landry that put Williams on the shelf this season, hopefully not for good.

The Bills have placed Williams (neck) on injured reserve.

EDGE Analysis

Williams will now see back-to-back seasons ended prematurely and in scary fashion, as the team and player now evaluate whether he can and should continue his football career. Unfortunately, it was a high cheap shot from Miami's Jarvis Landry that put Williams on the shelf, maybe for good.

Williams (neck) is out for Sunday's game against New England.

EDGE Analysis

The team and Williams are more worried about his long-term health at this point as he continues to be plagued by head/neck issues. Taking a high cheap shot from Jarvis Landry may end up costing Williams more than just a game or two.

Williams (neck) missed a second straight day of practice Thursday and appears unlikely to play Sunday against New England, BuffaloBills.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Coach Rex Ryan is calling Williams' latest in a series of head/neck issues -- this ice courtesy of a cheap shot from Miami's Jarvis Landry -- a "week to week" thing, though Ryan also shares a growing concern that the safety might have to evaluate his football career.

Williams (head/neck) will not practice Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Williams had to go to the hospital Sunday after taking a cheap and unnecessary hit from Miami's Jarvis Landry. While Rex Ryan hasn't ruled Williams out yet for this week's game against the Patriots, you can bet the team will take extra caution with Williams given the sensitive nature of the injury and his scary past with head/neck issues.