TAMPA, Fla. — No more test drives around the cones.

The Cadillac is ready to take the road.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers activated tailback Carnell "Cadillac" Williams on Wednesday, ending the fourth-year pro's grueling 13-month comeback from a devastating knee injury that ended his 2007 season.

"It's official," Williams said through an ear-to-ear grin between practices Wednesday. "Now, we'll see what happens."

Williams, 26, was placed on the 53-man roster and will be eligible to play Sunday when the Bucs (6-3), off a bye week, return to action against the Minnesota Vikings (5-4) at Raymond James Stadium. Whether he's ready to hit the field right away remains to be seen, but the team released running back Michael Bennett to make room for Williams, the former backfield centerpiece who rushed for 1,178 yards en route to being voted 2005 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

His first task back on the squad was to carry the ball 30 times for the scout team and make like Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, the league rushing leader (1,015 yards) who will face Tampa Bay's seventh-ranked defense this weekend.

"This is a process," Coach Jon Gruden said. "It was just a terrible injury — and a tremendous story, what he's done."

The return of Williams, who's started 32 career games and carried 569 times for 2,184 yards and 10 touchdowns, will bolster a banged-up backfield, with Earnest Graham nursing a sore knee and Warrick Dunn bothered by a sore back the last few weeks. Both Graham and Dunn are expected to play against the Vikes.

Williams' last game action was Sept. 30 at Carolina, where he tore the patellar tendon in his right knee trying to make a cut after an 18-yard run. At the time — and during the ensuing months — there was talk of the injury being career-threatening, but the 5-foot-11, 217-pound Williams spent hours in rehab and physical therapy and through it all vowed to return in '08.

"He put in a lot of time, effort and hard work — and it's paid off," offensive guard Davin Joseph said. "Hopefully, it'll benefit everybody."

Williams, a first-round draft pick from Auburn in '05, spent the first six weeks of the season on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, then entered a three-week window during which league rules allow the team to gauge a PUP player's health status.

The window was set to close Wednesday, with the Bucs needing either to activate Williams, place him on injured reserve or release him.

'Lac is back.

"Those early stages, they were tough . . . and a lot was said," Williams recalled. "But I've made it back and now I'm looking forward to the opportunity. It's a blessing."