Mike Williams has reached a notable checkpoint in his ACL rehab. The free-agent addition was activated from the lively/PUP record 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 transfer clears Williams to participate in observe.
The longtime Bolts deep risk was launched in one in all many cost-shedding strikes Los Angeles undertook this offseason. Williams’ newest well being subject restricted his long-term incomes energy on the open market, however he managed to land $8.3M in guarantees on a one-year pact. His Jets contract consists of $5M in incentives, so a lot will probably be using on his capability to stay wholesome on his new workforce. This information is a optimistic step towards taking the sector when the common season begins.
The highest of the Jets’ receiver depth chart is in fact led by Garrett Wilson. The previous top-10 picks faces excessive expectations for 2024 with a wholesome Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, however New York’s different pass-catchers are the topic of questions coming into the season. Huge-money 2023 free-agent signing Allen Lazard didn’t have a powerful debut Jets marketing campaign, whereas third-round rookie Malachi Corley will seemingly face an acclimation interval on the NFL degree as he develops his route-running specifically.
That ought to go away Williams, 29, in place to occupy a key function on offense this season. The Clemson alum has twice topped 1,000 yards in his profession, and his yards per reception mark has ranged between 13.1 and 20.4 yearly since his rookie marketing campaign. Offering New York with a reliable deep risk could be essential to the workforce’s capability to ship a bounce-back season on offense; it might additionally assist Williams’ free-agent inventory forward of 2025.
The Jets start their preseason slate on Saturday, and it might come as a shock to see Williams play in that contest. The workforce will little question proceed with warning as he ramps up, however by advantage of being cleared for observe, he could have ample time to organize for the season opener.
