During this offseason, the New York Jets have been among the most active teams, making significant additions to their offense as they prepare for the second year of the Aaron Rodgers era. Strengthening their offensive line, they acquired Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses, and John Simpson. Additionally, they bolstered their receiving corps by bringing in Mike Williams, providing Rodgers with a new target.
Williams, who spent the first seven years of his career with the Los Angeles Chargers, played a pivotal role alongside Keenan Allen as one of the team’s top wide receivers, first with Philip Rivers and then with Justin Herbert at quarterback. Known for his ability to win contested catches and threaten deep down the field, Williams is expected to complement Garrett Wilson effectively on the opposite side of the field.
However, Williams suffered a torn ACL that prematurely ended his 2023 season after just three games. Despite the setback, Williams is optimistic about his recovery and confident that he will be ready to take the field for the start of the upcoming season.
“I’m like four-and-a-half months out, five months out. So I should be ready — I will be ready for Week 1 of the season,” Williams stated during an appearance on The Adam Schefter Podcast. “That’s my goal and (it’s) looking good. I’ve got a meeting with my doctor here next week; so, take some more steps, keep building, make my way up there.”
As for his aspirations in New York, where he’s signed on a one-year deal, Williams has outlined two very specific goals.
“My goals are to get healthy and, I mean, I’m going on Year 8; I want to win a Super Bowl,” he stated. “I want to win a Super Bowl, so whatever it takes to do that. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to be the last team standing, holding that trophy up at the end. And I want to be available for every game. Those are my goals for the season.”
Throughout his career, Williams has only managed to play every game in a season once, back in 2018. Although he remained on the field for 15, 15, and 16 games from 2019 through 2021, he encountered setbacks, missing four games in 2022 and 14 in 2023.
If he can maintain his health throughout his upcoming age-30 season and sustain the level of production he’s exhibited for most of his career, there’s likely to be a strong market for his services in 2025.