The New York Jets are expecting WR2 Mike Williams ready in time for Week 1, but head coach Robert Saleh said the 29-year-old has a ‘long way to go’ in his recovery from ACL surgery.
Breece Hall did it. Now, the New York Jets are hoping free agent addition Mike Williams can repeat the feat.
After tearing his ACL 6.5 games into the 2022 season, Hall worked his way back into game shape in time for the 2023 opener and rekindled the same explosion he displayed prior to the acute knee injury. The Jets’ starter went on to total 1,585 yards from scrimmage while leading all NFL running backs in receptions (76).
Three weeks into what proved to be his final season with the Los Angeles Chargers, Williams suffered an ACL tear while making seven catches for 121 yards against the Minnesota Vikings. After spending the remainder of his LA tenure on Injured Reserve, the Chargers released the WR2 as a salary cap casualty and he subsequently landed a one-year contract, reportedly worth $10 million, from the Jets.
“Mike, he’s got a long way to go,” said Jets’ fourth-year head coach Robert Saleh while addressing reporters at the league meetings in Orlando. “He’s on the same timeline that Breece 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.”
The 22-year-old Hall, however, was somewhat of an anomaly in the short time he needed to regain full speed.
Presumably not expecting Hall to immediately absorb a heavy workload, the Jets signed running back Dalvin Cook one month prior to the season opener. Hall, who exceeded 20 miles per hour on the field in Week 1 according to Next Gen Stats, did not appear in any of the team’s four preseason games and wasn’t activated off the physically unable to perform list until August 15.
It may seem a bit overly ambitious to expect the 29-year-old Williams to instantly return to his pre-injury form when he takes the field in Week 1, but, when healthy, the Jets view the former No. 7 overall draft pick as a difference-maker.
“He’s a dynamic receiver,” said Saleh. “We’ve been a big fan of his for awhile. You say 50-50 ball, but it’s more 70-30 when it goes up to him.”
The 6-4 Williams has averaged 15.6 yards per catch over 88 career NFL regular season games. He eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in 2019 and 2021.
“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 Saleh.
