DT Jesse Williams, just months after cancer diagnosis, spotted at training camp

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SEATTLE -- Seahawks defensive tackle Jesse Williams was spotted on the practice field at VMAC Thursday wearing pads, just months after being diagnosed with Papillary Type 2 kidney cancer.

The Seahawks tweeted a picture of Williams, 24, on the field. According to Seahawks.com, Williams was activated from the non-football injury list.



Williams also seemed to confirm his return to the field with pads.



Williams was diagnosed with the cancer in May, after urine in his bloodstream prompted a visit to the Seahawks trainers. He had surgery to remove one kidney a few weeks later at the University of Washington hospital. The surgery was considered a success, though it was not immediately known if a majority of the cancer had been removed.

The defensive tackle remained optimistic about returning to football upon being diagnosed.

“Although disappointing, I am a fighter and will handle this," he said in a statement. "I am going to focus on my health and fighting this battle with a return to football as my ultimate goal. Thank you for your thoughts and support. Go Hawks!”

Williams is originally from Australia. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft out of Alabama. He is yet to play in an NFL game because of previous knee injuries.

Seahawks.com reported Williams began undergoing light training in June. On Aug. 2, he retweeted a picture of himself on the practice field where he was not wearing pads.

Though Williams awaits news in September to determine the next possible steps in his cancer treatment, Seahawks.com reported, he remains hopeful that he will play a regular season game soon.

"I can train and get myself back to fitness, fitness well enough to play, and that's what I'm going to do," Williams told Seahawks.com.