Jets' Mike Williams: Held to two catches in London
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Williams caught two of four targets for 25 yards in Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Vikings.
Williams' lack of involvement was discouraging considering Aaron Rodgers threw the ball 54 times as the Jets went pass-heavy in an attempt to dig out of a 17-0 hole. The veteran wide receiver tied with Breece Hall for a distant fourth in targets behind Garrett Wilson's 22, Allen Lazard's 10 and Tyler Conklin's nine. Despite Lazard's frequent drops, he and Wilson have seen much more consistent attention from Rodgers than Williams has. Up next for Williams and the Jets is a pivotal Week 6 home game against the Bills on Monday Night Football.
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Jets' Mike Williams: Team-high 67 yards in loss
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Williams caught four of five targets for 67 yards in Sunday's 10-9 loss to the Broncos.
Williams helped set up the Jets' second field goal with a toe-tapping 21-yard catch on his only first-half target. He added catches of 22 and 20 yards in the second half to finish with the team lead in receiving yards despite seeing three fewer targets than each of Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard and Tyler Conklin. Williams has increased his yardage total in every game this season as he continues to get further removed from last September's ACL tear, and he's just about the only member of the Jets offense with some momentum heading into the team's trip to London to face the Vikings in Week 5.
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Jets' Mike Williams: Three grabs in Week 3 win
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Williams secured three of four targets for 34 yards in the Jets' 24-3 win over the Patriots on Thursday night.
Williams took another step forward in his third game working with Aaron Rodgers, setting new season highs in receptions, receiving yards and targets. The veteran wideout has gone from not being targeted Week 1 to a 1-19-0 line Week 2 to Thursday's performance, indicative that he's both rounding into form following last season's ACL tear and developing chemistry with Rodgers. Williams next faces a foe he's familiar with from his AFC West days, as the Broncos will pay a Week 4 visit to MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 29.
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Jets' Mike Williams: Important catch in Week 2 win
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Williams caught his only target for 19 yards in Sunday's 24-17 win over the Titans.
While Williams remained quiet on the stat sheet, he saw a substantial bump in usage, playing 65 percent of the Jets' offensive snaps after being on the field for only 18 percent in Week 1. His lone catch was an important one, as Williams came down with a jump ball along the sideline to get the Jets out of a 2nd-and-16 pickle on a fourth-quarter drive that culminated in Braelon Allen's game-winning touchdown run. Williams' usage is being ramped up as he puts last year's ACL tear further behind him, and it wouldn't be surprising if he surpassed Allen Lazard (82 percent snap share) in playing time Thursday against the Patriots.
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Jets' Mike Williams: Ready for more snaps Week 2
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Coach Robert Saleh said Friday that Williams will play an increased role Sunday versus the Titans after having been under a 15-play limit Week 1, Connor Hughes of SNY.tv reports.
Williams only handled nine offensive snaps during Monday's 32-19 loss to the 49ers, his first game since suffering a torn ACL last September. The veteran wideout was essentially used as a decoy in his Jets debut, and even if his workload increases against Tennessee, Williams likely will need to continue ramping up for a bit before he can handle a full assortment of snaps as a starter. Until then, Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard figure to continue working as Aaron Rodgers' top two wide receivers.
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Jets' Mike Williams: Used as decoy in Jets debut
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Williams wasn't targeted in Monday's 32-19 loss to the 49ers.
Playing on a pitch count in his recovery from a torn ACL suffered last September, Williams played only four snaps in his first half as a Jet and continued to see minimal action in the second half. The former Chargers wide receiver is likely to gradually ramp up his workload, so he could be more involved Week 2 against the Titans, but Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard should continue to lead the Jets' receiving corps early in the season after combining for 12 catches, 149 yards and two touchdowns on 20 targets Monday.
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Jets' Mike Williams: Ready for Week 1
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Williams (knee) practiced fully Thursday, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Williams, who continues to move past the ACL tear he suffered in his left knee Week 3 last season, thus is in line to be available for Monday night's season opener against the 49ers. That said, coach Robert Saleh told Cimini that the Jets will monitor the wideout's reps Week 1, which figures to lead to Williams being on some form of a pitch count in terms of snaps, even if he feels like he could handle more extensive work versus San Francisco.
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Jets' Mike Williams: Week 1 Waiver Priority List
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Williams is expected to be eased into action after suffering a torn ACL last year in Week 3, but he should play in Week 1 at San Francisco. He's a big-play threat when healthy, and we'll see how he does meshing with new quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Just keep in mind that Williams will be 30 in October, and he will be inconsistent in his production throughout the year.
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Jets' Mike Williams: To be available Week 1
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Coach Robert Saleh said Thursday that Williams (knee) is expected to be available for New York's regular-season opener against the 49ers on Monday, Sept. 9, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Saleh said Williams had a "really nice" practice session Thursday, "including four or five catches, well over 100 yards" in team drills, per Nick Shook of NFL.com. The head coach also said that the Jets are "gonna be very smart with how we use [Williams]," but that "he's gonna be plenty available to make his mark felt." That seems like an indication that Williams' involvement will be ramped up as the season progresses, which isn't much of a surprise given that the veteran wideout is working his way back from an ACL tear. Even if his rep count is limited Week 1, Williams is a big-bodied downfield threat capable of making an impact in a single play, and he it wouldn't be out of the question for him to immediately produce as the No. 2 receiver for QB Aaron Rodgers.
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Jets' Mike Williams: Returning to team drills
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Williams (knee) will begin taking team reps Tuesday, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports.
It's a significant sign of progress on a day when so many other players that suffered ACL tears last season are being placed on the PUP or NFI lists and ruled out for the first four games of 2024. Williams isn't among that group, having suffered his injury early last season (Week 3) with no report of additional structural damage to his left knee. The Jets removed him from the active/PUP list Aug. 7 and he's been doing individual drills ever since. Williams still might not be ready for Week 1 at San Francisco, but all signs suggest the Jets expect him to play at some point in September.
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Jets' Mike Williams: Eyes team reps next week
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Williams (knee) expects to take team reps in practice next week, Eric Allen of the Jets' official site reports.
Williams continues to bounce back from the ACL tear he suffered in his left knee Week 3 last season, and participating in team drills will be a significant milestone for the wideout. As Week 1 approaches, it remains to be see what role the free-agent addition will handle early on, but once Williams is fully up to speed, he's on track to be a key component of the Jets' passing game while working alongside top WR Garrett Wilson.
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Jets' Mike Williams: A week or two away from team drills
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Williams (knee) was limited to individual work at Thursday's practice and won't take part in team drills for another week or two, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Coach Robert Saleh said Thursday that Williams, who came off the active/PUP list Wednesday, is "a lot further ahead than we anticipated," per Andy Vasquez of The Bergen Record, but he declined to state whether the veteran wideout will have his snap count limited to start the season. That seems positive for Williams' chances of being available Week 1 versus the 49ers, though as he works his way back from a torn left ACL suffered Week 3 last season, it remains likely that the big-bodied contested catch specialist will need time to ramp up his effectiveness. Once at 100 percent form, Williams figures to operate as the Jets' clear No. 2 wide receiver behind Garrett Wilson, with Xavier Gipson, Allen Lazard and Malachi Corley options to factor into three-wide sets.
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Jets' Mike Williams: Comes off PUP list
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The Jets removed Williams (knee) from the active/PUP list Wednesday.
Williams' activation from the PUP list sets him up to practice for the first time in training camp, a notable step in his recovery from the ACL tear he suffered in his left knee back in Week 3 last season. The timing of Williams' activation perfectly aligns with the timetable provided by head coach Robert Saleh earlier this offseason, indicating that his recovery from knee surgery is continuing on schedule. The 29-year-old is in position to operate as one of Aaron Rodgers' top targets this season, behind No. 1 wideout Garrett Wilson, with running back Breece Hall and tight end Tyler Conklin also in the mix as pass catchers. If he can quickly get back on the field without losing a step, Williams' upside in the Jets offense could entail a 1,000-yard receiving campaign and notable usage in the red zone. There's real risk, on the other hand, that Williams gets out to a slow start to the season even if he is cleared for action Week 1 against the 49ers.
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Jets' Mike Williams: Officially moves to PUP list
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The Jets placed Williams (knee) on the active/PUP list Thursday, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
It's been expected that Williams would begin training camp on the PUP list as he works his way back from an ACL tear, with August representing a potential target for the veteran wideout's activation. The 29-year-old can come off the PUP list at any point throughout training camp, once cleared for practice activities, and he still has just over three weeks to get ready for the Jets' preseason opener against Washington. Williams still seems to have a chance at being available for Week 1, though he could still have to ramp up his activity level early in the season. If he can quickly return to full strength without suffering any notable setbacks in his recovery, Williams will have the opportunity to emerge as a pivotal player behind Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall in the Jets' top-heavy offense.
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Jets' Mike Williams: No timeline for practice return
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Head coach Robert Saleh said Wednesday that Williams (knee) doesn't have a timeline to return to practice, Eric Allen of the Jets' official site reports.
Williams has been at the Jets' team facility for their offseason program, mostly working indoors with the training staff. He was spotted on a side field last week, but the 29-year-old still isn't expected to practice with teammates any earlier than training camp. Williams profiles as the Jets' No. 2 receiver once he makes it back from the left ACL tear he suffered Week 3 last season with the Chargers. His one-year, $10 million contract reportedly includes $8.3 million guaranteed, with an additional $5 million available via incentives, per Albert Breer of SI.com.
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Jets' Mike Williams: On side field to start OTAs
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Williams (knee) has not yet been cleared for football activities and is working on a side field at OTAs on Tuesday, Andy Vasquez of The Bergen Record reports.
Williams went down to a left ACL tear in Week 3 last season while with the Chargers, so he was never a likely candidate to be ready for OTAs. The start of training camp in July could represent a better target for Williams, though the Jets haven't offered an official estimate for his return timeline. On the plus side, Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) is participating in OTAs without any setbacks, so Williams will be able to start building chemistry with his new quarterback as soon as he gains clearance. The big-bodied 29-year-old will complement top wideout Garrett Wilson as the No. 2 option for New York once healthy.
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Jets' Mike Williams: Heading to AFC East
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Williams (knee) is set to sign a one-year deal with the Jets, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Per Schefter, Williams' deal with New York is worth up to $15 million. The 2017 first-rounder is bouncing back from a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 3 while with the Chargers last season. Given the timing of the injury, Williams should be ready to go before the start of the 2024 season, at which point he'll provide the Jets with a viable starting wideout option opposite Garrett Wilson.
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Mike Williams: Cut by Chargers
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The Chargers will release Williams (knee) on Wednesday with a failed physical designation, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Williams is rehabbing from an ACL tear and was due $20 million in non-guaranteed compensation for 2024, the final season of a three-year extension. The Chargers may have discussed a paycut, extension or trade, but they weren't able to work anything out and now are cutting the 29-year-old wideout loose right around the start of the league year. Williams will become one of the top free agents available, and the timing of his severe knee injury -- which occurred in late September -- gives him a decent chance to be ready for the start of the 2024 campaign.
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Chargers' Mike Williams: Ahead of schedule in recovery
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Williams (knee) said Jan. 8 that he's "slightly ahead" of schedule in his rehab from an ACL tear, Omar Navarro of the Chargers' official site reports.
Williams also mentioned that he liked playing in former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore's scheme, having caught 19 passes for 249 yards and a touchdown prior to suffering the ACL tear late in a Week 3 game. He'll have a more run-focused coordinator in Greg Roman if he's back with the Chargers in 2024, something that's far from assured given Williams' $20 million in non-guaranteed compensation for the final year of his contract. He had surgery Oct. 25, exactly one month after suffering the ACL injury, and he seemingly anticipates being ready for Week 1 of the 2024 season.
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Chargers' Mike Williams: On track for training camp
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Williams underwent surgery Wednesday to repair the torn ACL in his left knee and is expected to be ready for the start of training camp next summer, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Williams will spend the rest of the 2023 season on injured reserve and isn't projected to be back to 100 percent for OTAs, but he should be ready to practice by the time camp beings. The Chargers will have a potential out from Williams' contract in the offseason, which would save the team roughly $20 million, with $7 million in dead cap money. As such, in addition to tackling his rehab, expect Williams to engage in contract discussions with his team next spring. With Williams sidelined, Joshua Palmer (knee) has stepped up as the next man up behind Keenan Allen, and rookie first-round pick Quentin Johnston's role should continue to expand in the second half of the season.
