Mike Williams has reached a notable checkpoint in his ACL rehab. The free-agent addition was activated from the active/PUP list by the Jets on Wednesday, per a team announcement.
Williams was limited to three games in 2023, his final one with the Chargers, as a result of the injury. It was clear in March that being back to full speed in time for the start of training camp was not a goal for team or player in his case. Returning to health in advance of the regular season, though, was a target. This move clears Williams to take part in practice.
The longtime Bolts deep threat was released in one of many cost-shedding moves Los Angeles undertook this offseason. Williams’ latest health issue limited his long-term earning power on the open market, but he managed to land $8.3M in guarantees on a one-year pact. His Jets contract includes $5M in incentives, so plenty will be riding on his ability to remain healthy on his new team. This news is a positive step toward taking the field when the regular season starts.
The top of the Jets’ receiver depth chart is of course led by Garrett Wilson. The former top-10 picks faces high expectations for 2024 with a healthy Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, but New York’s other pass-catchers are the subject of questions entering the season. Big-money 2023 free-agent signing Allen Lazard did not have a strong debut Jets campaign, while third-round rookie Malachi Corley will likely face an acclimation period at the NFL level as he develops his route-running in particular.
That should leave Williams, 29, in place to occupy a key role on offense this season. The Clemson alum has twice topped 1,000 yards in his career, and his yards per reception mark has ranged between 13.1 and 20.4 every year since his rookie campaign. Providing New York with a dependable deep threat would be crucial to the team’s ability to deliver a bounce-back season on offense; it would also help Williams’ free-agent stock ahead of 2025.
The Jets begin their preseason slate on Saturday, and it would come as a surprise to see Williams play in that contest. The team will no doubt proceed with caution as he ramps up, but by virtue of being cleared for practice, he will have ample time to prepare for the season opener.
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