New Jets WR Williams expects to return from his knee injury for start of season

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Mike Williams has been showing up at the New York Jets' facility and pushing through his latest round of rehabilitation with one goal in mind.

The veteran wide receiver wants to put the torn ACL that cut short his season last year with the Los Angeles Chargers far behind him and catch passes on the field again.

And there’s optimism about when he’ll be ready to play again.

“For the season, for sure,” Williams said Wednesday after the Jets' final minicamp practice. “That’s my goal, to be able to go out there, play this season and give it my all and give this team a chance to win the big thing.”

Williams, who signed a one-year deal with the Jets in March that could be worth as much as $15 million with incentives, tore the ACL in his left knee in Week 3 last season against Minnesota. The 29-year-old wide receiver was well on his way to a big season, catching 19 passes for 249 yards and a touchdown before the injury.

He has been working with the team's trainers during the offseason and minicamp practices.

“Just to get back to my normal self, that’s the main thing,” Williams said. “Everything it takes to get back to, you know, Mike Williams football, winning football. So, yeah, just grinding every day, doing whatever it takes.”

Coach Robert Saleh has compared Williams' rehab schedule to that of running back Breece Hall, who suffered a similar injury in 2022 and was brought along slowly last offseason before ramping up his workload as the season went along.

A healthy Williams would provide a huge boost to the offense and quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who also has Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Xavier Gipson, Jason Brownlee and rookie Malachi Corley among the wide receivers group.

“I think I can complement the receiver group well,” said the 6-foot-4, 218-pound Williams. “I can be that big, physical receiver who can make plays downfield, catch slants or do whatever it takes, really. Just getting where I fit in, make plays and get this thing rolling.”

Williams, who had 309 receptions for 4,806 yards and 31 touchdowns in seven seasons with the Chargers, said the toughest part right now is pacing himself and not rushing back on the field before he's fully healthy.

Because, he believes, he still has plenty more big plays to make.

“I think we're going to see that,” Williams said.

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