As if the Pittsburgh Steelers’ dwindling listing of broad receiver choices wasn’t sufficiently small, one other title would possibly’ve been eradicated Thursday night time. And it was the more than likely considered one of all. The New York Jets recorded a desperately wanted victory over the Houston Texans to kick off Week 9, ending their dropping streak and getting them to 3-6. Hardly the place they need to be however a win forward of the commerce deadline could persuade them to hold onto WR Mike Williams in spite of everything.
Not solely will the Jets have a extra optimistic lens of the season, buying and selling Williams would harm their depth chart greater than initially anticipated. Earlier Thursday, the group positioned WR Allen Lazard on injured reserve on account of a chest harm, shifting Williams to 3rd on the depth chart. With out him, there’s little behind Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson, particularly after rookie Malachi Corley’s gaffe of dropping the ball earlier than crossing the top zone, turning a landing into turnover.
Even earlier than the Texans and Jets kicked off, the winds started to blow within the “preserve Williams” route. ESPN Jets beat author Wealthy Cimini identified that Williams’ worth has gone up in Lazard’s absence.
“The Jets usually tend to retain Mike Williams as a substitute of constructing him obtainable for trades,” Cimini wrote.
Pregame, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler echoed an identical sentiment.
“The Jets have been open to buying and selling Mike Williams,” Fowler stated on SportsCenter. “Williams is open to a commerce himself, and there’s curiosity. Nonetheless, I’m informed for this explicit sport, he’s been in a great place with the teaching workers. They’d a great speak with him. They’re making an attempt to place all of the commerce rumors to mattress for this sport and that he could possibly be a focus to what they’re doing tonight. In the event that they win and he’s a giant a part of it, perhaps they maintain onto him.”
Williams wasn’t a focus of the win, ending with one catch for six yards on two targets. He did draw a fourth-down penalty within the second half, maintaining a Jets drive alive. Adams and Wilson stole the present. Adams caught his first landing move as a Jet whereas Wilson had the catch of the 12 months (and for these asking, one shin equals each toes, the distinction between his and George Pickens’ non-score).
However with the Jets profitable Thursday night time and Williams taking part in extra snaps due to Lazard’s harm, they may resolve in opposition to parting with him. In spite of everything, their compensation can be minimal, a sixth-round choose at very best.
If Williams is off the board, so may be the Steelers. The New York Giants don’t appear open to dealing Darius Slayton – regardless that they ought to – and different choices are scant. Except the Broncos have a change of coronary heart with Courtland Sutton — bear in mind they turned down a third-round choose from San Francisco firstly of the 12 months and now discover themselves within the AFC Wild Card race — there’s little else on the market who may actually transfer the needle.
Maybe the Las Vegas Raiders’ Jakobi Meyers. Maybe another person. Or maybe the Steelers stand pat with what they’ve acquired, the end result of each commerce rumor this 12 months.
