Jet’s latest acquisition, the remarkable wide receiver, Mike Williams, had quite an exciting few days, journeying from the dream city of Paris all the way to sunny California before touching down in New Jersey to meet with his new team. His touchdown in New Jersey was accompanied by a comprehensive tour of the team’s state-of-the-art facility. On his experience with the Jets, Williams enthusiastically shared with the media, ‘I find this to be a perfect fit for me.’ The prospect of being teammates with Aaron [Rodgers] is simply thrilling for him, he iterates enthusiastically that he is eager to learn and grow with the skilful athlete.
Williams professed his admiration for Garrett [Wilson], whom he sees as having something akin to Keenan [Allen]’s style, noting their exceptional route running, an asset he believes he can contribute too as well. He further acknowledges the Jets’ strong running game, emphasizing that he can contribute effectively. Looking at the defensive prowess of the Jets, Williams conveyed an optimistic outlook for the team’s future, ‘The team has a promising road ahead with such a strong defensive setup.’, he said.
Securing another top-notch receiver has been a key point in the Jet’s strategy, and they surely hope that Williams will complement the consistent performance of Wilson. Although Allen Lazard was lured with a four-year contract worth $44 million to bring stability to the position, he was unable to fulfil those expectations, making only 23 catches for 311 yards and scoring one touchdown in 14 games. This underwhelming performance led the Jets back into the trading scene, on a hunt for impressive talent to boost their receiving team.
Williams, standing tall at 6-4 and weighing 218 pounds, is all set to deliver brute force to the team; his commanding stature will be a valuable asset when it comes to snagging high-flying balls in a crowd. Williams’ seven-year career thus far accented by an impressive average of 15.6 yards per catch, is an indication of the valuable experience he brings to the table.
His performance in 2021 was especially noteworthy, totalling 76 catches for 1,146 yards and nine touchdowns. A remarkable record by any standards, his exceptional performance that season however doesn’t eclipse the lingering concerns about his health. Although an incredible athlete, Williams unfortunately has a history of susceptibly to injuries, having managed to play full seasons only twice in his NFL career.
The following season post his record-breaking performance, Williams suffered a back injury during the Chargers’ playoff, which led to his missing the consequential loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars. That year, he was absent for not only that crucial game but for four others as well. Williams’ injuries persisted in 2023 when he tore his ACL in the third week of the season, resulting in him missing the remainder of the games.
However, Williams provided an update on his injury status during a press call on Wednesday, informing that he is four and a half months post-operation and expected to be back in action for the 2024 season. Although he didn’t commit to being ready for the pre-season training camp in late July, Williams struck a positive note expressing his commitment to recovery and improvement, ‘My primary focus right now is coming in every day, putting in the hard work, and just to keep grinding.’
Williams also humbly acknowledged being privileged to have worked with exceptional quarterbacks like Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert. He transcends luck to sheerly hard work and getting an opportunity to work with Aaron Rodgers, a four-time MVP who joined the Jets last April, is something Williams is looking forward to. The initial intention behind drafting Rodgers to the Jets was to make the team a formidable force driving towards Super Bowl glory.
Despite the high hopes, that plan was delayed when Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury just four plays into the season opener against the Buffalo Bills. The Jets had to close the 2023 season without the anticipated success, maintaining the same 7-10 record as the previous year. Entering this offseason, the team administration is geared to make improvements. Not only have they brought in Williams to supplement Rodgers, but they’ve also strengthened their offensive line.
According to Williams, the prospect of playing alongside a quarterback of Rodgers’ caliber certainly simplifies matters for him. However, he also believes that his skills make things easier for Rodgers, quoting, ‘Having a player like me around certainly adds value to the team.’, encapsulating his valuable contribution to the team. His humble yet confident note conveys both the excitement and commitment he brings to this season.
While Williams visited the Jets’ facility, an unexpected breakfast treat was delivered to him, courtesy of Broadway Jets’ X/Twitter account @NYJ_Matt. A piping hot, classic Taylor Ham, egg, and cheese sandwich was DoorDash delivered to Florham Park. The Jets’ official team captured Williams indulging his breakfast sandwich which proved to be quite a hit on social media.
The video of Williams enjoying his sandwich spread so popularly that a repeat performance appeared at the Brooklyn Nets’ game against the Pelicans on Tuesday night at Barclays Center. Williams, referring to the viral sandwich scene – ‘Seems like this sandwich sealed the deal for me.’- @darealmike_dub @NYJ_Matt. Meanwhile, @darealmike_dub still seems to crave for more!
“This what got the deal signed right here.” – @darealmike_dub ?
? @NYJ_Matt pic.twitter.com/k8WnqzHviP
— New York Jets (@nyjets) March 19, 2024
Regarding the sandwich saga, Williams later revealed, ‘I learned about it through Twitter a few days before.’ A preemptive reveal by the delivery person set Williams up for a delicious surprise upon his arrival, and he seemed far from disappointed with the treat. ‘That sandwich turned out to be pretty awesome, honest to goodness.’ With this, Williams adds a dash of humor and human touch to the highly competitive and focused world of professional football.
— Aaron F****n’ Rodgers (@BleepinRodgers) March 21, 2024