In four professional seasons after leaving Texas A&M following his junior year in 2014, San Antonio Commanders running back Trey Williams had two carries.

He bounced from the Washington Redskins, to the Dallas Cowboys, to the New England Patriots, to the Miami Dolphins, to the Indianapolis Colts, to the Pittsburgh Steelers, to the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, and back to the Cowboys again.

Through all those stints, he only rushed for 12 yards against the Indianapolis Colts on Jan. 3, 2016.

Finally, Williams was in line for a playing opportunity this year, earning a prominent role in the San Antonio Commanders’ running back rotation during training camp. But when the Commanders’ season opener came, Williams was kept on the sidelines because of a foot injury. He said the setback was tough on him mentally.

“A lot of prayer, man, and being patient,” Williams said. “Wanting to be out there. Pretty much just starving yourself out there. As soon as you get out there, you have to go get it. It’s all or nothing.”

Williams made his Commanders debut Sunday against the San Diego Fleet, rushing seven times for 75 yards and catching two passes for 13 yards.

His 75-yard output is the most in a game this season for a San Antonio back, and he figures to take a major role again as the Commanders (1-2) travel to face the Birmingham Iron (3-0) at 3 p.m. Sunday.

“Everybody saw his explosiveness,” Commanders coach Mike Riley said. “He has real speed. He hit the edge a couple times and not only had speed around the edge, he made some people miss, which was great.”

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Williams had three carries that went for more than 10 yards. His 30-yard scamper down the right sideline in the third quarter is the Commanders’ longest rushing play this season.

He also caught two passes for 13 yards.

“He brought a lot of firepower for us,” San Antonio quarterback Logan Woodside said. “He busted out a few big runs. He caught the ball out of the backfield really well. So it was good to have him back and have some speed back there for him to get going.”

Williams adds another option to a crowded backfield. Kenneth Farrow has run for 138 yards and two touchdowns, and David Cobb has 53 yards. Aaron Green, a Madison product and the only San Antonio native on the roster, has 62 yards rushing and four catches for 38 yards. Together, they have helped the Commanders produce the Alliance of American Football’s second-best rushing attack, averaging 149 yards per game.

After Williams was inactive during the season’s first two weeks because of injury, Green was inactive when all four players were healthy for Week 3.

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“The hard part is we can only get three of them on the field right now,” Commanders general manager Daryl Johnston said. “That’s a hard choice. Those are four good football players that we have at that position. Unfortunately, we’re probably in the same spot this week.”

Johnston said Farrow is “the most complete guy” of the group. Cobb is the “big, physical runner” at 5-foot-11 and 227 pounds, though Johnston said San Antonio is “having a tough time getting that going.”

Green is the “explosive guy who has the ability to go the distance at any time,” Johnston said.

Riley said the Commanders are fortunate to have four capable options at the position, and Woodside said each offers a distinct element to the offense.

“Each guy is very different,” Woodside said. “Each guy brings their own uniqueness to the team and in the backfield. (Williams) is really explosive and a really fast and quick guy. Just try to get him the ball and see if he can make somebody miss and make a big play for us.”

Williams said he offers versatility at the position because of his pass-catching ability.

San Antonio is yet to give any of its backs 15 carries in a game, and Williams said the Commanders gain from having the option to spread the ball around or ride a hot hand.

“If I'm having a good game, then hey, just keep feeding it. But if not, we’re going to have a lot of backs,” Williams said. “We back each other up. We make each other better in the backfield. These guys help me. I ask on the field, ‘What’s going on? What do you see?’ They ask me the same thing. We’re getting each other better. That’s where I feel like we benefit.”

greg.luca@express-news.net