PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It was like a dream. Really. Receiver Mike Williams discusses joining the Steelers, where he fits & a potential connection with Russell Wilson.
Williams was asleep on Tuesday and he wondered if he was dreaming as his phone was vibrating. He had four missed calls from his agent and then the Jets GM called him, he picked up and was told about the trade.
Excited about the being with the Steelers, Williams said he’s now part of a team making noise in the league. The 30-year-old Williams also comes to a team where he believes he can make an impact after just 12 receptions for 166 yards in New York.
“I’m a playmaker, I want to make plays,” Williams said. “I want to get the opps. I’m going to go out here and work and show that I deserve to be on the field.”
He got reps right away with Russell Wilson during the first practice Wednesday, saying he was able to make a couple of plays. He believes this offense will be a quick study for him because the formations are the same to what he had with the Jets. He’s also helped because Steelers receivers coach Zach Azzanni was with New York last year.
Williams also goes from a Super Bowl winning quarterback to a Super Bowl winning quarterback. Interesting how he made the distinction between Wilson and Aaron Rodgers.
“Russ, everybody sees it,” Williams said. “He puts the work in, time in and time out. A leader on and off the field. Just very thankful to have a guy like that as quarterback of this team, a leader, put us in the right position to be successful.”
Playing in New York for this season was ‘cool’ according to Williams. He said not being able to participate in OTAs and training camp because of recovering from ACL surgery didn’t allow him to build chemistry with Rodgers. He added Aaron is particular and ‘likes what he likes.’
Now with Wilson he said he’s looking forward to running under a couple of those moon balls. He said Wilson gives receivers chances to make plays and he’s ready to do that.
“Hell yeah, that’s something I’ve been good also in my career was catching that deep ball and tracking the ball,” Williams said. “Come down with a few of those, gain that trust in each other and let’s connect on a lot of those.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he will see how Williams skillsets fit before discussing the new receiver’s role. He’ll see where they are at on Sunday and determine his reps from there.
There is a recognition from Williams that Steelers leading receiver George Pickens is making plays and his abilities should allow Williams to make an impact.
“George is a dawg,” Williams said. “Obviously, you can just put the ball up wherever for him and he can make a play. He’s quick out of his routes. Spectacular catches, he is amazing. Just put me wherever and I will do my thing also.”
Williams scheduled a free agent meeting with the Steelers this past offseason, but he met with the Jets first and never left. He played at Acrisure Stadium three weeks ago and said Steelers fans were yelling at him then ‘don’t go back, stay, don’t take the plane back.’ He got a big smile out of that.
You can imagine what the last few months have been like in New York. Now he’s in Pittsburgh and hopes to be free of all of that. He says he’s 100% recovered from knee surgery and ready to show he can still make plays in the NFL.
“Adding me just adds a threat, another guy who can go out there and make plays,” Williams said. “I’m looking forward to it.”