New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh is exercising cautious optimism with wide receiver Mike Williams.
The Jets signed Williams last month after he was cut by the Los Angeles Chargers with the understanding that the veteran was recovering from a torn ACL.
Saleh recently provided an update on Williams’ status.
“Mike, he’s got a long way to go,” Saleh said last week, via Ralph Ventre of Jets Country. “He’s on the same timeline that Breece (Hall) had. They’re very similar injuries, same time frame. He knows he’s got a road to trek, but at the same time, if he does it the right way, we’re very confident we’ll have him ready for Week 1.”
Williams suffered the injury three games into this past season.
The 29-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Clemson, was selected by the Chargers with the seventh overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft.
He barely made an impact during his rookie campaign, but the following year, Williams flashed his big-play potential, registering 43 catches for 664 yards and 10 touchdowns. The following season, Williams was even better, catching 49 passes for 1,001 yards and a couple of scores, averaging a terrific 20.4 yards per catch.
Williams’ best season to date, however, came in 2021, when he hauled in 76 receptions for 1,146 yards while reaching the end zone nine times.
In his last healthy campaign in 2022, he snared 63 balls for 895 yards and four touchdowns.
Williams will serve as the Jets’ No. 2 receiver behind Garrett Wilson, and Saleh thinks that if Williams can stay healthy, he can be a major difference maker.
“He’s got work to do, but excited if he can accomplish the work that he needs to accomplish, he’ll be a tremendous asset to not only himself but to the organization,” said Robert Saleh.
We’ll see what Mike Williams brings to the table in New York in 2024.
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