PRESTON WILLIAMS NEWS

Jumps back into game action Sunday Williams failed to bring in either of his two targets in the Dolphins' 29-26 preseason win over the Bengals on Sunday.

Impact While he ultimately failed to crack the stat sheet, the fact Williams was able to get back into game action for the first time since suffering his foot injury in Week 9 of last season was certainly encouraging. Williams was coming on when he went on the shelf in 2020 -- he'd recorded a touchdown grab in three of his last four games before being sidelined -- and he'll now look ahead to picking up where he left off when he and the Dolphins tangle with the Patriots in a Week 1 battle on Sunday, Sept. 12.

AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Set to play Sunday Williams (foot) is in uniform and is set to play in Sunday's preseason finale against the Bengals, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Impact Williams was mostly limited at practice since being activated from the PUP list Aug. 19, and it appears he'll take the field for Sunday's exhibition matchup at Cincinnati. It'll be an opportunity to receive some reps for the 24-year-old after missing the start of camp while rehabbing from November foot surgery.

AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

With Fuller back, Dolphins' top WRs are all on the field

The Miami Dolphins’ three first-team wide receivers are all practicing for the first time in training camp

AUGUST 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ramping up workload Williams (foot) will have his practice reps increased this week, Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post reports.

Impact Coach Brian Flores mentioned Tuesday that Williams, who has been limited since coming off the PUP list Aug. 19, will get more work in team drills during the coming days. Williams began his career with the Dolphins as a starter, but after back-to-back season-ending injuries it now looks like he may only be fifth on the depth chart behind Jaylen Waddle, DeVante Parker (undisclosed), Will Fuller (foot/suspension) and Albert Wilson (undisclosed).

AUGUST 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dolphins WR Williams practices for 1st time since November

The Miami Dolphins’ injury-depleted receiving corps has added a reinforcement but also lost another player

AUGUST 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Limited in first camp practice Williams (foot) was limited to individual drills at Thursday's practice after being removed from the PUP list, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

Impact Williams hopes to return to team drills soon, but he may need some time to ramp up following his extended absence while rehabbing from November foot surgery. He was a starter for Miami his first two years in the league, but both seasons ended early with severe injuries, and the team now has Will Fuller (foot/suspension) and Jaylen Waddle joining DeVante Parker at wide receiver. Throw in a strong summer for Albert Wilson and it's possible Williams enters the season only fifth or sixth on Miami's wideout depth chart. Granted, some of the guys in front of him have similarly worrisome medical records, with Wilson and Fuller in particular struggling to stay on the field for various reasons in recent years.

AUGUST 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dolphins' Preston Williams on coming back from PUP list Dolphins wide receiver Preston Williams, who attended Lovejoy, comments on his return from injury during joint practices with Atlanta Falcon...

AUGUST 19, 2021 • AJC.COM

Taken off PUP Williams (foot) was removed from the PUP list Thursday, Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post reports.

Impact It means he's passed a physical and has clearance to begin practicing, though he'll likely be limited after the long layoff. Williams had foot surgery last November and missed the entire offseason program, not to mention his slide down the depth chart after Miami added Will Fuller and Jaylen Waddle this offseason. Williams probably still has a roster spot, but perhaps as the fourth/fifth receiver rather than the starting assignment he handled in his first two professional seasons, both of which ended early due to severe injuries.

AUGUST 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dolphins' Shaheen: NFL won't 'strong-arm' him to get vaccine

Miami Dolphins tight end Adam Shaheen says contact tracing landed him on the COVID-19 reserve list, and he has no intention to get vaccinated

AUGUST 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

3 Miami Dolphins removed from COVID-19 reserve list

Three of the four Miami Dolphins players who had been on the COVID-19 reserve list have been removed from it

AUGUST 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Off COVID list Williams (foot) has been activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Impact Prior to being placed on the COVID list, Williams, who's bouncing back from November foot surgery, had been on the Dolphins' preseason PUP list. Though he's no longer in the league's COVID protocols, it remains unclear when Williams might return to the field. Miami's wideout depth chart is currently headed by DeVante Parker, Will Fuller and Jaylen Waddle.

AUGUST 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dolphins WR Williams joins 3 TEs on the team's COVID-19 list

Miami Dolphins receiver Preston Williams joined three tight ends already on the team’s COVID-19 reserve list, and co-offensive coordinator George Godsey was absent Monday for medic...

AUGUST 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Placed on COVID list Williams has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Impact Williams, who is bouncing back from November foot surgery, previously was placed the preseason PUP list, and it's unclear at this time when he'll be cleared to take the field. While Williams remains sidelined, the Dolphins announced Monday that fellow wideout DeVante Parker (undisclosed) has been activated off the PUP list.

AUGUST 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dolphins CB Howard reports to camp but wants to be traded

Miami Dolphins All-Pro cornerback Xavien Howard has requested a trade

JULY 27, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Preston Williams may be facing his last chance with Miami Dolphins The talent at wide receiver is deep and promising and some of that is because of Preston Williams but this may be his last chance with the M...

JULY 11, 2021 • PHINPHANATIC.COM

Doesn't participate in minicamp Williams (foot) participated in the Dolphins' voluntary offseason program but didn't practice at June minicamp, The Miami Herald reports.

Impact The Dolphins may have planned this all along, but it's also possible Williams aggravated his foot injury or dealt with a new issue during OTAs. He had season-ending foot surgery in November, after requiring a procedure for a torn ACL the previous year. Williams now enters his third pro season facing fierce competition for playing time, as the Dolphins added Will Fuller and No. 6 overall pick Jaylen Waddle in the offseason. The team also has DeVante Parker, who topped 1,200 yards two years ago, while the likes of Albert Wilson, Allen Hurns, Jakeem Grant and Lynn Bowden provide sturdy competition for depth roles. Williams is 24 and still on a rookie contract, so he should have a path to a roster spot even if he's lower down the depth chart.

JUNE 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Williams the Mystery Man at Wide Receiver Miami Dolphins wide receiver Preston Williams is hoping to rebound after two injury-shortened seasons

JUNE 11, 2021 • SI.COM

Puts forth practice Williams (foot) was on the field for Wednesday's practice, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

Impact Coming back from November foot surgery, Williams appears to be on track for the start of training camp. His health is probably less of an issue than his competition for snaps, after the Dolphins added Will Fuller and Jaylen Waddle this offseason. Williams has shown signs of developing into a solid NFL starter, but he might have to settle for the third or fourth receiver spot this season.

MAY 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Plummets down depth chart Williams (foot) looks set to enter the 2021 season in a depth role, Mike Clay of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Williams quickly earned himself a starting spot in Miami as an undrafted rookie back in 2019, but after back-to-back seasons in which injuries limited him to eight games, the team had to explore other options. This offseason has seen long-time starter DeVante Parker joined by explosive playmakers Will Fuller (suspension) and Jaylen Waddle, all three of whom stand to be prioritized in three-wide sets. With Williams even facing competition from Lynn Bowden, Albert Wilson and Jakeem Grant for the No. 4 spot, it's hard to envision a path to fantasy relevance in the near future.

APRIL 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Reason for Dolphins teasing a Preston Williams return in 2020 revealed The last time we saw wide receiver Preston Williams in 2020, the wide receiver was logging a key score against the Arizona Cardinals midway...

APRIL 19, 2021 • USATODAY.COM

Recovering from surgery Williams underwent surgery on his foot in November, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reports.

Impact The procedure was his second season-ending surgery in as many years, though the Dolphins never revealed the extent of Williams' foot injury when he was placed on injured reserve in mid-November. The young wideout scored four touchdowns in eight appearances before he hurt his foot, but he averaged just 4.4 targets and 36 yards per game, returning to action 10 months after his rookie season ended with an ACL tear. The Dolphins expect Williams to be healthy for the start of the 2021 campaign, which will be his age-24 season. Because he was undrafted, Williams can become a restricted free agent in March 2022, following the third season of his rookie contract.

JANUARY 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Still not practicing Williams (foot) isn't participating in Wednesday's practice, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports.

Impact Dolphins head coach Brian Flores has said that Williams isn't shut down for the season, but at this point, the second-year wideout doesn't seem to have a realistic shot to play Week 17 against the Bills. Williams could have a better shot at returning to the field in the postseason, should the Dolphins earn a playoff berth. Through eight games before landing on injured reserve, Williams secured 18 of 35 targets for 288 yards and four touchdowns.

DECEMBER 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Not available Week 16 Dolphins head coach Brian Flores confirmed Williams (foot) won't be available to play Saturday against the Raiders, Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post reports.

Impact Flores noted that Williams hasn't been shut down for the season, but at this stage, a return for the postseason looks to be the wideout's focus at this point rather than making it back for a Week 17 matchup with the Bills on Jan. 3. Since landing on injured reserve Nov. 11 with the foot injury, Williams has yet to resume practicing.

DECEMBER 24, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Return uncertain Dolphins head coach Brian Flores suggested Wednesday that Williams (foot) remains in recovery mode and is uncertain to return from injured reserve before the end of the regular sea...

Impact Flores didn't rule out the possibility of Williams making a late-season return, but for now, the wideout's activation doesn't appear imminent. If the Dolphins make the playoffs, Williams would have more time to heal up from his foot injury and get back on the field, but his chances of playing again during the regular season seem to be growing slimmer. With Jakeem Grant (undisclosed) and Malcolm Perry (chest) both banged up, Miami could certainly benefit from Williams' potential return.

DECEMBER 9, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Top News: Preston Williams to IR, What Comes Next The Dolphins placed wide receiver Preston Williams on inured reserve, Brian Flores talked next steps on Wednesday

NOVEMBER 11, 2020 • MIAMIDOLPHINS.COM