New York Jets Star: ‘I Will be Ready for Week 1’

While New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn’t get a chance to show what he was capable of with the Jets’ 2023 weapons, the addition of wide receiver Mike Williams will make his return significantly less stressful.

Young wide receiver Garrett Wilson was far and away the best catcher on the Jets in 2023. He had a 1,000-yard season and was just five receptions away from 100 catches with quarterback Zach Wilson at the helm.

The next two leading receivers on the Jets didn’t even play the wide receiver position. Tight end Tyler Conklin had 621 yards receiving and running back Breece Hall had 591 yards receiving. Wide receiver Allen Lazard, who was brought over because of Rodgers, was the next-best receiver with 311 yards receiving.

Williams had just four fewer receptions and 62 fewer receiving yards, despite playing in just three games to Lazard’s 14 games. Williams explained how Wilson will complement his game in New York in an SNY article.

“I just felt like it was a great fit for me,” Williams said last week. “Aaron, I want to be able to play with him, pick his brain, learn from him. Playing alongside Garrett kind of reminds me of playing with Keenan [Allen] a little bit. Similar style players, great route runners, and I feel like we can complement each other in that area. Running game is pretty good, defense is elite, so I just feel like we have a pretty good opportunity ahead of us.”

“I feel like I’ve got a great opportunity ahead of me,” Williams said, “so I’m just looking forward to it.”

Newly signed New York Jets WR Mike Williams is productive when healthy

While New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams tore his ACL in 2022 and 2023, he told NFL insider Adam Schefter that he will be ready come week one of the 2024 season.

Williams joined the NFL in 2017 when he was taken as the No. 7 overall pick. The Clemson Tigers star has only played in one full season since joining the league. After playing in all 16 games in 2018, he missed games in each of the following seasons.

Despite missing games, Williams has posted two 1,000-yard seasons. His most productive season was 2021 when he had 129 receptions, nine touchdowns and 1,146 receiving yards in 16 games, which was just one game short of a full season.

Williams was on the brink of 100 receptions and 1,000 yards receiving in 2022 when he tore his ACL. He had 93 receptions and 895 receiving yards in just 13 games.

Williams has always played with another elite wide receiver in Keenan Allen, so he has never gotten the chance to be a true first-choice wide receiver. That won’t change with Garrett Wilson around, but a change of scenery could allow Williams to have his most productive season yet.