For the past two weeks, Jets WR Mike Williams has participated in individual drills after being activated from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
"Routes, drills, blocking, stuff with the quarterback – whatever everybody else is doing is what I'm doing as far as individuals," Williams told reporters Monday about his limited work. "And then I go off to the side of the field and run like 30-plus routes."
But Williams (6-4, 218) is eyeing another big step in his return from an ACL tear he sustained last season against the Vikings in Week 3. With the Jets' season opener against the 49ers three weeks away, Williams believes he'll return to team drills next week in Florham Park.
"I think next week I'm going to be doing some team stuff," he told reporters. "Just getting into a rhythm of doing things with the team, lining up and going through some plays."
Williams signed with the Jets in March after lining up with the Chargers from 2017-23. The Clemson product, who was selected No. 7 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, averaged 15.6 yards on his 309 receptions with the 'Bolts and had 31 TDs. Wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson recently commented on the way Williams has approached the mental game in camp.
"Mike has been very attentive in the room, does a great job as well with the younger guys," Jefferson said. "The other day, put him in a walk-through because he hadn't done any walk-throughs with us. So, I put him in a walk-through just to be like, OK, I'm thinking that's my moment to grab him, right? Get him in his walk-through, hopefully he screws up. Great moment for me to coach him. He didn't miss a beat, he knew everything. So, he's been coming along and it's day-by-day. But he's coming along. I think he's ahead of schedule."
With Aaron Rodgers at the controls, the Jets offense has been productive and oftentimes explosive. Williams can be another key piece for a unit that already boasts WR Garrett Wilson and RB Breece Hall.
"Another playmaker," Williams said of what he can add. "I feel like I can make plays whether it's down the field, between the hashes, outside the numbers. It doesn't matter, just make plays, be a physical guy in the run game and just add another element to the offense, another threat."
And a threat who for years flourished with Keenan Allen and now will transition to a third-year WR in Wilson who is poised for superstardom.
"We (are) different," Williams said of Wilson. "Obviously, he's a good route runner, has a lot of energy. Good with the ball in his hands, can make defenders miss, can run routes. And me just a big physical receiver. You might think I'm covered, but I'm not if you give me an opportunity to make a play. So yeah, I think we can just complement each other in those types of areas."
