NOVEMBER 5 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
MIKE WILLIAMS #18 - WIDE RECEIVER - PITTSBURGH STEELERS
198 YDS •
13 REC •
1 TD
198 YDS
13 REC
1 TD
Steelers Acquire WR Mike Williams From Jets The Pittsburgh Steelers have acquired Mike Williams from the New York Jets.
Jets Trade Veteran Receiver Mike Williams to Steelers Williams will get a fresh start in Pittsburgh after an underwhelming stint in New York.
NOVEMBER 5 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Moving to Steel City The Jets agreed to trade Williams to the Steelers in Tuesday, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
Impact As for compensation, Pittsburgh is sending a 2025 fifth-round pick to New York for the wide receiver's services. Despite playing in all nine games this season, Williams wasn't able to develop chemistry with QB Aaron Rodgers, surpassing 50 receiving yards only one time and scoring no touchdowns. Upon joining the Steelers, Williams will team up with George Pickens at the top of the WR depth chart.
NOVEMBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Limited to one catch Thursday Williams secured one of two targets for six yards in the Jets' 21-13 win over the Texans on Thursday night.
Impact Williams once again struggled for relevancy in the Jets' air attack, even on a night where Davante Adams missed significant time during the second half for a concussion check. Williams has been the subject of trade rumors as Tuesday's deadline approaches, and the fact he's had no more than one catch in any of his last four games seems to cement the notion that his best fit may be somewhere outside the Jets organization.
NOVEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE
Blanked in No. 3 WR role Williams wasn't targeted in Sunday's 25-22 loss to the Patriots.
Impact Williams has clearly lost the trust of Aaron Rodgers, as Williams played 58 percent of offensive snaps in the absence of Allen Lazard (chest) but wasn't thrown to at all. Xavier Gipson got the only target by a Jets wide receiver other than Garrett Wilson or Davante Adams, and Gipson made the most of that opportunity by scoring a one-yard touchdown. Williams is unlikely to play a significant role in Week 9 against the Texans, if he isn't traded by then.
OCTOBER 28 • ROTOWIRE
Blanked in No. 3 WR role Williams wasn't targeted in Sunday's 25-22 loss to the Patriots.
Impact Williams has clearly lost the trust of Aaron Rodgers, as Williams played 58 percent of offensive snaps in the absence of Allen Lazard (chest) but wasn't thrown to at all. Xavier Gipson got the only target by a Jets wide receiver other than Garrett Wilson or Davante Adams, and Gipson made the most of that opportunity by scoring a one-yard touchdown. Williams is unlikely to play a significant role in Week 9 against the Texans, if he isn't traded by then.
OCTOBER 28 • ROTOWIRE
Should help replace Lazard Williams is expected to reclaim a regular spot in three-receiver sets for the Jets in Sunday's game against the Patriots with Allen Lazard (chest) listed as doubtful for the contes...
Impact While both Garrett Wilson and Lazard were healthy last week, Williams ended up seeing a steep reduction in playing time in Sunday's loss to the Steelers as the newly acquired Davante Adams made his Jets debut. Williams played just 33 percent of snaps -- his lowest share since Week 1 -- and finished with one catch for 15 yards on two targets. Though he's poised to regain snaps Sunday, Williams is still expected to rank well behind Adams and Wilson in terms of target share.
OCTOBER 25 • ROTOWIRE
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One catch in limited role Williams caught one of two targets for 15 yards in Sunday's 37-15 loss to the Steelers.
Impact Williams dipped to No. 4 on the Jets' wide receiver depth chart after Tuesday's acquisition of Davante Adams, and the former was on the field for just one third of the team's snaps on offense. To Williams' credit, he kept his head in the game after being scapegoated for running the wrong route on Aaron Rodgers' game-sealing interception in the Week 6 loss to the Bills, and Williams' lone catch against the Steelers was a fourth-down conversion while the game was still within reach. Williams is a candidate to be traded before the Nov. 5 trade deadline.
OCTOBER 21 • ROTOWIRE
One catch in limited role Williams caught one of two targets for 15 yards in Sunday's 37-15 loss to the Steelers.
Impact The former Charger dipped to No. 4 on the Jets' wide receiver depth chart after Tuesday's acquisition of Davante Adams, and Williams was on the field for just one third of the team's snaps on offense. To his credit, he kept his focus after being scapegoated for Aaron Rodgers' game-sealing interception in a Week 6 loss to the Bills, and Williams' lone catch against the Steelers was a fourth-down conversion while the game was still within reach. Williams is a candidate to be dealt before the Nov. 5 trade deadline.
OCTOBER 21 • ROTOWIRE
Set to suit up against Steelers Williams (personal) was a full participant in practice Friday and will play Sunday against the Steelers, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Williams has twice run the wrong route in crucial situations, resulting in a pair of game-losing Aaron Rodgers interceptions for the 2-4 Jets. After New York traded for Davante Adams on Tuesday, there has been speculation that the team is looking to move Williams, which was intensified by Williams' non-participation in practice Wednesday and Thursday for personal reasons. Nonetheless, coach Jeff Ulbrich said Friday that Williams will be part of the team's game plan against the Steelers, per Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Even if he has a role Sunday, Williams is unlikely to be a significant contributor, with Adams, Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard ahead of him on the wide receiver depth chart.
OCTOBER 18 • ROTOWIRE
Not practicing Williams (personal) is back with the Jets but was listed as a non-participant in Thursday's practice, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Williams reportedly did some work on the side but didn't actually practice with teammates. He's clearly the odd man out after the Davante Adams trade, and it may be that the focus right now is on staying healthy while the Jets try to work out a trade. Whatever the case, Williams isn't a recommended fantasy play Week 7 against the Steelers.
OCTOBER 17 • ROTOWIRE
Back with team Thursday Williams is present at Jets team facilities Thursday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Impact Williams missed Wednesday's walk-through practice with a 'personal' designation, presumably as a direct result of reports that New York is trying to trade him following the acquisition of Davante Adams on Tuesday. There are still nearly three weeks until the NFL's trade deadline, though, so Williams' status with the team heading into a road Sunday Night Football matchup against the Steelers remains murky. Allen Lazard and Garrett Wilson seem locked in alongside Adams as the Jets' starting trio in three-wide sets, as through the first six games of the regular season Williams has only 10 receptions for 145 yards and no touchdowns on 17 targets.
OCTOBER 17 • ROTOWIRE
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Not with team Wednesday Williams (personal) was listed as a non-participant in Wednesday's walk-through practice, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Impact This is likely related to the Jets trying to trade Williams after they acquired Davante Adams on Tuesday. They might need to eat some money on his one-year, $10 million contract to get a deal done, as Williams hasn't played especially well this season and was criticized by QB Aaron Rodgers for running the wrong route on a late-fourth-quarter interception during a 23-20 loss to the Bills on Monday. With Allen Lazard and Garrett Wilson both having productive seasons, Williams will merely be a backup if he ends up staying with the Jets.
OCTOBER 16 • ROTOWIRE
Avoids concussion Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said Tuesday that Williams (head) cleared concussion protocol, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Ulbrich previously revealed after Monday's 23-20 loss to the Bills that Williams was being evaluated for a head injury, which he suffered on the Jets' final offensive play of the game. Williams finished the night with no catches on three targets over his 31 snaps and was the subject of criticism from quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who told Cimini in his postgame press conference that the receiver ran the wrong route on the Jets' final play, which resulted in an interception. Though Williams looks as though he'll be healthy enough to play in Sunday's game against the Steelers in Week 7, he could see a major drop in snaps after the Jets acquired receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) in a deal with the Raiders earlier Tuesday. With Adams, Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard seemingly locked in as the Jets' starting wideout trio and Williams offering no utility on special teams, Williams could be a candidate to get traded ahead of the Nov. 5 deadline. The 30-year-old signed a one-year, $10 million deal this offseason but has recorded just 10 receptions for 145 yards and no touchdowns on 17 targets through New York's first six games.
OCTOBER 15 • ROTOWIRE
Davante Adams trade roundtable: Who won and what it all means going forward
FOX Sports' NFL experts delve into the Davante Adams deal and what it means for the Jets and Raiders — and maybe for the Lions, too.OCTOBER 15
Could be on outs after Adams trade Williams (head) could be at risk of a role reduction after the Jets acquired Davante Adams (hamstring) from the Raiders on Tuesday in exchange for a conditional third-round pick, R...
Impact After completing his recovery from a torn ACL he sustained last season as a member of the Chargers, Williams was eased in with just nine snaps in the Jets' Week 1 loss to the 49ers, but he had seen his playing time steadily increase in the games that followed. However, that trend ended Week 6, as Williams saw his snap share drop from 70 percent in Week 5 to a 53 percent share in the Jets' 23-20 loss to the Bills on Monday. Williams failed to reel in any of his three targets in the loss, and his night ended on a particularly sour note. Per Cimini, quarterback Aaron Rodgers said in his postgame press conference that the veteran receiver ran the wrong route on the Jets' final play of the game, resulting in an interception in Bills territory that sealed the win for Buffalo. Williams was evaluated for a head injury after the play in question, but even if he clears concussion protocol ahead of this Sunday's game in Pittsburgh, he still looks set to drop to fourth on the depth chart behind Adams, Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard. The Jets have gotten little back in their one-year, $10 million investment in Williams thus far, with the 30-year-old producing a 10-145-0 receiving line on 17 targets through six games.
OCTOBER 15 • ROTOWIRE
Evaluated for head injury Williams is being evaluated for a head injury following the 23-20 loss to the Bills on Monday, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.
Impact Williams was targeted on the Jets' final offensive possession, but he slipped on the turf and failed to bring in an Aaron Rodgers pass that ended up intercepted. He looked shaken up following the play, and it has now been confirmed by the Jets to be a head injury. The pass catcher went catchless on three targets prior to sustaining the head injury.
OCTOBER 15 • ROTOWIRE
Held to two catches in London Williams caught two of four targets for 25 yards in Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Vikings.
Impact Williams' lack of involvement was discouraging considering Aaron Rodgers threw the ball 54 yards 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' 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.
OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE
Team-high 67 yards in loss Williams caught four of five targets for 67 yards in Sunday's 10-9 loss to the Broncos.
Impact 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.
SEPTEMBER 29 • ROTOWIRE
Three grabs in Week 3 win Williams secured three of four targets for 34 yards in the Jets' 24-3 win over the Patriots on Thursday night.
Impact 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 in Week 1 to a 1-19 line in Week 2 to Thursday's performance, indicative 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.
SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE
Mike Williams breakout game incoming: Lock in New York Jets Receiver for Thursday Night Football Fantasy Pick'em | Sporting News Mike Williams is one of the best MORE or LESS plays against the New England Patriots on Thursday Night Football.
SEPTEMBER 19 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM
Important catch in Week 2 win Williams caught his only target for 19 yards in Sunday's 24-17 win over the Titans.
Impact 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.
SEPTEMBER 16 • ROTOWIRE
