PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – If you expected an enthusiastic head coach ready to brag about his new receiver, you didn’t get that from Mike Tomlin on Wednesday, at least outwardly.
Steelers traded a fifth-round drafted pick for eight-year NFL receiver Mike Williams on Tuesday. Williams has a pair of thousand-yard seasons and has averaged 15.5 yards per reception over his career. It appears to be a perfect add at 6’4” with the ability to stretch the field. Tomlin was asked what makes Williams a great fit with the Steelers?
“That’s to be discovered,” Tomlin said. “I didn’t say that. And so, we’ll get to know. We get to know his skill set and we’ll figure those things out along the way.”
That being said, Williams did get some first team looks with Russell Wilson during his first Steelers practice Wednesday. Tomlin said they’ve got a few days to sort it out with Williams and newly added outside linebacker/defensive end Preston Smith.
He added to not read too much into playing time in this Sunday’s game at Washington. He said it’s not the end game, they acquired those two players to be with them the rest of the season and they are willing to take some time to figure out their roles.
Jefferson wants to win
You would think if Williams skill sets allow him to get on the field. It will impact the opportunities for receiver Van Jefferson. The 28-year-old free agent signee is coming off his best game as a Steeler, four catches for 62 yards against the Giants and scored his first touchdown the previous week against the Jets. He’s played 68% of the snaps this year.
“Being competitive, obviously having a new teammate coming in that wants to contribute, wants to help, I’m going to help him out wherever I can to get him on the field and get him playing,” Jefferson said after practice Wednesday. “At the end of the day I got one common goal and that’s to win games.”
“He’s a great addition to the team, great addition to the room. I’m excited to play alongside of him.”
Jefferson said he doesn’t know this will exactly affect him going forward with the Steelers. He is taking it like a pro and focusing on what he can control.
“It’s something that I’m not going to set my mind on because if I set my mind on that I’m not be ready for Sunday,” Jefferson said. “Just will see what is going to happen and doing my best to help this team. Whatever that might be I will excel at the role and do what I can to help the team.”
Big-time add
“It’s big-time,” tight end Pat Freiermuth said before practice Wednesday of Williams. “Just another threat, you know he’s a downfield guy. He can make plays throughout the field. We are really excited to have him.
Hopefully he can bring some good things to our offense.”
Freiermuth said potentially having a pair of downfield players, Williams and George Pickens, it can limit what defenses can do against them. In turn, it is going to open up opportunities for him and receiver Calvin Austin and allow them to dictate what they want to do to the defense.