Williams, who was reinstated by the NFL last week after serving an 18-month suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, did participate in an informal workout Monday with practice squad quarterback Casey Bramlet.

"I threw to him and gave him a couple of handoffs," Bramlet said at yesterday's annual turkey handout at Dolphin Stadium. "Mostly little stuff (passes); nothing too serious.

"He caught the ball well. He looked pretty good, as if he had been working out and was in outstanding shape."

In Williams' last full season with the Dolphins in 2003, he gained 1,372 yards, but also caught 50 passes for another 351 yards.

Williams, 30, would give rookie quarterback John Beck an experienced receiver to throw to, not to mention providing Jesse Chatman with a solid backup who's had four seasons of more than 1,000 rushing yards.

Williams, who weighed in at a muscular 231 pounds Monday, said that he had been working out for the past month and a half in Boston.

"I didn't see (the workout), but I saw what his physique was looking like in the weight room. That was impressive," cornerback Michael Lehan said.

Dolphins running backs coach Bobby Jackson and coach Cam Cameron were supervising Williams' workout, but Cameron hasn't revealed whether Williams will play Monday.