Pittsburgh Steelers WR George Pickens didn’t simply catch 5 passes; he additionally stored Mike Williams engaged in his Steelers debut. The newly-acquired large receiver ended up with the game-winning landing, however noticed restricted snaps. Particularly, he performed 9 snaps, focused as soon as, however that occurred to be the clincher.
Pickens, who already caught a landing earlier within the recreation, was excited to see his new teammate making performs. “It’s nice, man He made a big-time play, too”, he mentioned of Williams, through the Steelers’ web site. Solid off by the Jets, Pickens mentioned Williams confirmed in his Steelers debut “He’s nonetheless the good receiver from Clemson”.
An eighth-year veteran, Mike Williams spent his entire profession with the Chargers previous to this offseason. He signed with the Jets, however he had a gathering scheduled with the Steelers. That they had only in the near past traded Diontae Johnson and needed a giant goal to pair with Pickens. They didn’t get him then, however the two are glad to be working collectively now. They usually know Sunday was just the start.
“We knew situationally [Mike Williams] may play a giant position”, Pickens mentioned, through the Steelers’ web site. “I instructed him, situationally, ‘Simply keep in it’. As a result of a man together with his dimension, fourth down, two minutes to go? When it’s waning, we’re searching for guys like that. So I simply instructed him ‘Keep in it’”.
Whereas Williams performed a snap right here or there, he wasn’t presupposed to be on the sphere for the landing. WR Calvin Austin III made a key catch just a few performs earlier, however needed to exit the sport because of harm. A minute and a half later, he was working the route he watched Austin run in his first Steelers practices.
The Steelers spent all offseason exploring their choices at large receiver to pair with George Pickens. Mike Williams was the largest title they have been reported to have pursued in free company, however he signed with the Jets earlier than ever assembly with them. They pursued Brandon Aiyuk and Davante Adams through commerce, amongst others, however lastly landed Williams.
Contemplating his minimal contributions with the Jets, quite a lot of Steelers followers weren’t significantly enthusiastic about Williams coming in for a fifth-round decide in alternate. But when he can preserve making performs like yesterday, he and Pickens could be a good mixture.
Russell Wilson threw for underneath 200 yards in his third begin with the Steelers, however with three touchdowns. Pickens caught certainly one of them amongst his 5 receptions for 95 yards. Williams had one other on his lone 32-yard reception, TE Pat Freiermuth claiming the opposite.
Would Austin have made the identical play had he been within the recreation? Maybe, maybe not. The way in which Williams received on the play, it didn’t take a lot effort on the catch level. However one factor I do know is that’s not the final time Wilson and the Steelers chuck one as much as him. Now they’ve one other jump-ball participant to pair with Pickens, which they have been searching for.
