Opportunity knocks for second-year Patriots receiver Kyle Williams. What kind of answer can he give?
New England will be without star wideout A.J. Brown for at least four weeks as he recovers from a high ankle sprain, but he could miss as many as six, according to reports.
Brown’s absence opens a clear door for young Williams, one of the Patriots’ less utilized explosive options on offense.
“We want to get Kyle involved,” head coach Mike Vrabel said Monday. “I'm hopeful that Kyle can find a role for us and find a way to help us, using his speed and catch and run opportunities like we saw last year at times or some shot-type plays.”
Williams’ biggest contribution on the field has been his lightning-fast speed. The 5’11 receiver maxed out at 21.78 mph on a catch-and-run touchdown last season, per Next Gen Stats. But Williams believes he’s more than a pair of wheels. When asked what else he brings to the offense, his answer was, “A lot.”
“If I wanted to, really, I'd give you a Christmas list for real,” he continued. “But I could do a lot, man. And just when those opportunities present itself, that's when I'll be able to show it. But I know I'm more than just speed.”
He played in all 17 games last year but started zero, and averaged about 30% of snaps across both special teams, as a returner, and offense.
Williams only had 10 receptions during the regular season, but his three touchdowns were all long-distance shots that clocked in over 30 yards. If the Patriots are hoping to keep secondaries honest while Brown is on injured reserve, they would do well to establish Williams as a real option – especially after having traded fellow deep threat Kayshon Boutte at the end of summer.
He’s also open-minded about an opportunity anywhere on the field – not just lining up outside.
“Personally, I feel like I could do anything,” he said. “You get what I'm saying, but it's really wherever I'm needed, wherever the team needs me, and wherever I could just be optimized the most, that's where I'll just be at. So, it's just no control over that. You know what I'm saying? I can just control what I do, and that's what route I'm giving, how I get open and catch the ball.”
Williams got zero targets in Week 1 against Seattle, but he had two kickoff returns, including one that he took for a nice 29 yards. Special teams is likely to keep giving him a leg up on anyone behind him, including Efton Chism, who was inactive for the season opener.
“I thought Kyle ran decisively. It didn't look timid,” Vrabel said.
Williams praised his fellow special teamers – especially Reggie Gilliam. Gilliam won AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in 2023 after forcing a fumble on a kickoff against the New York Jets.
“Have you seen Reggie just lit somebody's ass up?” Williams said. “Excuse my language. That's fun to watch when it happens right in front of your eyes.”
Now in his second year in Josh McDaniels’ system and gelling with quarterback Drake Maye, Williams has a chance to show more versatility, starting with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ visit to Foxborough Sunday.
