Mike Williams took a big step in his return from an ACL tear with more than a month to go before the New York Jets kick off the season.
The team announced Wednesday that Williams has been activated off the physically unable to perform list.
The 6-foot-4 receiver suffered a torn ACL in September 2023, playing in just three games last season.
The Los Angeles Chargers released Williams after he declined to take a pay cut this offseason. He subsequently signed in New York as a field-stretching No. 2 opposite Garrett Wilson.
On paper, Williams is an ideal weapon to pair with Wilson. When healthy, the 29-year-old can win on the boundary, be a deep threat for Aaron Rodgers, and be a red-zone threat. For now, however, theory is all we have to go off.
One issue for the former first-round pick has been staying on the field. He's missed at least one game in the past five seasons. Now, coming off a significant knee injury, the question is what type of juice Williams has off the bat.
Activating Williams now gives the wideout a month-long ramp-up period to be ready for Gang Green's prime-time season opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
If Williams returns to the 1,000-yard receiver who earned a $20-million-per-year contract in L.A., it would help open up the Jets offense and better fit the rest of the WR corps down the depth chart. If he fails to stay healthy, New York would again be counting on the likes of Allen Lazard playing above his weight class.
