Redskins Medical Staff Diagnosed Trent Williams’ Life-Threatening Cancer As “Something Minor”

The NFL trade deadline came and went on Wednesday, and star lineman Trent Williams is still a Redskin despite rumors that he could be on the move.

Williams has been holding out for the first eight weeks of the season, and it’s for good reason.

The offensive tackle told his teammates that he demanded a trade or release because of their handling of a recent medical situation, vowing not to play for them again. He’s now revealed what that situation was.

“It was cancer”. “I had cancer, I had a tumor removed from my skull. It got pretty serious for a second. I was told some scary things from the doctor so it was definitely nothing to play with — one of the things that will change your outlook on life.”

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Williams said Redskins doctors became aware of a growth on his skull, but told him the issue was “minor” and let him play for several seasons after that. Turns out that “minor issue” was Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans, a serious soft-tissue sarcoma that develops in the deep layers of skin that can be fatal.

“I almost lost my life,” Williams told the Washington Post.

Via CBS Sports

JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington reports that Williams said the growth popped up roughly six years ago and that the team declared it was minor. It ended up being classified as Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP). The fact that the Redskins’ medical staff let this situation escalate led to his distrust of the team doctors.

“The lump continued to grow over the years, and it was concerning,” Williams said, via NBC Sports Washington. “But there was no pain involved. “If I’m getting told by various people who I put my career in the hands of telling me that I’m fine, then I’m fine. That’s how I looked at it.”

Earlier this offseason, Williams went to go get what he thought was a cyst removed, but that’s when he discovered how incredibly serious the situation actually was.

“I went to go get the cyst extracted, and when they did it, they found out it wasn’t a cyst,” Williams said. “[They] told me it was DSFP. That’s what the cancer is called. It’s a very rare soft tissue cancer. The diagnosis that they gave me in the beginning, they kind of underestimated it,” Williams said.

Williams also talked about his contract, and how it would be crazy to play without any guaranteed money left on his deal.

“It’s a combination of things,” said Williams when asked why he held out. “What I went through health wise took me away from the game for a minute anyway. That and the contract status was a thing as well, obviously playing with no guaranteed money, I don’t think any premier player would want to do that, especially not in the game we play today.”

Right now, the Redskins are in the process of finding a helmet Williams can wear without any discomfort. When asked point-blank if he would play in Washington again, Williams left it open for interpretation.

“We’ll see how this helmet thing turns out,” said Williams. “But I’m here.”