CHARLOTTE, N. C. — The last time Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams talked to the media, he was wearing goggles. That was way back in Week 4, ahead of the Panthers’ “blood and guts” game with the Baltimore Ravens.

Williams, who has not explained why has been so elusive with reporters this year, temporarily broke his silence Wednesday.

“It’s definitely been one of those seasons where you don’t like to take it back, but it’s a learning experience,” Williams said. “Not having to deal with this type of adversity throughout a season before … it’s kind of one of those things where you just sit back and go, ‘OK, All right. What’s next? What’s next?'”

Williams’ mother lost her long battle with breast cancer in May, and this season, he has dealt with a couple nagging injuries.

A tweaked hamstring forced him out of the Panthers’ win over the Lions in Week 2 and a loss to the Steelers in Week 3. When he returned for the Ravens game, he twisted an ankle in the second quarter, which then put him out the next four games.

“It wears on him,” coach Ron Rivera said. “DeAngelo is a tough-minded guy who takes a lot of pride in his preparation and the way he does things, Not being able to prepare, not being able to play in certain parts of the season when he knows he could have helped us, it was hard on him. And he’s struggled with that.”

Williams had been above average in the durability department until this season. He missed just 17 games out of a possible 128 since his rookie year in 2006.

This year’s injuries and his age have combined to make it appear that the 31-year-old does not have much tread left on his tires. Williams has not scored a touchdown, and he is averaging just 3.5 yards on 56 carries, the worst average of his career.

But the Panthers’ all-time leading rusher, who is now healthy, remains hopeful he can produce in the final five-game stretch.

“When you go through so many games week in and week out, your body gets accustomed to being hit and being thrown around and get in that rhythm and that muscle memory. But then when you break that chain, you’ve got to get back into it,” Williams said. “It’s great putting the pads back on to get your body and your muscle memory back.”

–Bene Benwikere had never missed significant time away from football until he had to deal with one of the game’s trickiest injuries.

After the rookie cornerback suffered a high ankle sprain in the first quarter of the Panthers’ Week 5 win over the Bears, he thought he would be out three-to-four weeks. Instead, he missed the next six games.

“I really have no clue why it took so long,” Benwikere said Wednesday. “I guess the healing process, it wanted to take so long.”

Benwikere will finally make his return Sunday against the Vikings. His absence is not the sole reason the Panthers have not won a game since Week 5, but they have sorely missed their No. 1 nickel corner.

“We’re talking about a guy that has great vision, tremendous vision, a good feel for playing inside on the slot. He showed it early for us. He flashed for us, and he trained at it all during training camp,” coach Ron Rivera said. “We should do some things a lot better. We should put ourselves in better position, and I’m excited to see how much better we should be with him on the field.”