Mike Williams was back at the Jets’ practice facility Thursday after missing the previous day’s walk-through for what the team listed as personal reasons.
The veteran receiver had been called out publicly by quarterback Aaron Rodgers for running the wrong route late in Monday night’s loss to the Bills, and the Jets traded for six-time Pro Bowler Davante Adams the day after the defeat dropped them to 2-4 on the season.
Jets passing game coordinator and new play-caller Todd Downing said before Thursday’s practice that he has no concerns about Williams’ focus because “Mike’s a pro.”
“We have an accomplished wide receiver room right now and I hope that everybody feels there’s been some intentionality and purpose in how we’re putting the plan together,” Downing said.
Notably, Williams did not participate in receiver drills during the portion of Thursday’s practice open to the media, instead working out on a side field with a trainer and injured cornerback D.J. Reed (groin).
With less than three weeks remaining until the Nov. 5 trade deadline, Williams’ future with the Jets appears tenuous.
Williams, who signed a one-year contract worth $10 million in the offseason, is likely to lose playing time in a receivers group adding Adams to Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard, who is tied for the NFL lead with five touchdown receptions.
Adams and Lazard have long histories with Rodgers as teammates with the Packers.
“Just tell Aaron to throw to the open guy. That’s the easy part,” Downing said. “As a chef you would want a bunch of ingredients, right? You wouldn’t want to be standing in the kitchen and looking for something in the cupboard.
“So it’s a good problem to have, that we have all these ingredients…That’s the challenge for a coaching staff, right? You have all these very talented weapons now, and it’s about figuring out how you’re gonna make sure that everybody feels their piece of the pie.”
Williams’ former team, the Chargers, as well as the Steelers and the Saints, have been identified among “a number of teams reaching out to the Jets about Williams,” according to The Athletic.
Williams has had a slow start to the season after missing all of training camp while recovering from reconstructive surgery to repair a torn ACL last year.
The 6-foot-4 receiver has 10 catches for 145 yards and zero touchdowns through six appearances entering Sunday night’s game against the Steelers.
After Monday’s loss, Rodgers said Williams ran the wrong route when the quarterback was intercepted by Bills cornerback Taron Johnson with 1:52 remaining.
“It’s two vertical [routes]. Allen [Lazard] is down the seam and Mike is down the red line. I’m looking at Allen, he puts his hand up and three guys go with him. So I’m throwing a no-look to the red line,” Rodgers said. “And when I peek my eyes back there, [Williams] is running an in-breaker. He’s got to be on the red line. It’s the little things every single time.”
The next day on his weekly paid spot on The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers shifted the blame to himself.
“I’ve gotta play better and I can’t make that throw to end the game,” Rodgers said. “The question was about what happened on that play and I wasn’t calling Mike Williams out.
“I hold myself to a standard of greatness and when it hasn’t been there, I stand up there and say I gotta play better.”