Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams has retired from the NFL at age 30. Williams, who signed a $6 million, one-year deal in mid-March to return to the Chargers for his second stint with the team, was placed on the physically unable to perform list with an undisclosed injury on Monday. Two days later, he called it quits.
His agent, Tory Dandy, told general manager Joe Ortiz on Wednesday night, hours before the Chargers became the first NFL team to open training camp Thursday.
“It’s obviously a tough situation,” quarterback Justin Herbert said. “Football, at the end of the day, is a game and there’s more to life than just football, and I’m just hoping for the best for him.”
Williams played eight seasons in the NFL, including stints with both the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024.
The Chargers drafted Williams in the first round with the seventh overall pick in 2017. He had 330 career receptions, 5,104 receiving yards and 32 touchdown receptions over his eight-year career.
Williams’ pro debut was delayed by a back injury that caused him to miss training camp. He sat out the first six games of the regular season before seeing action. He was sidelined by a knee injury in Week 13.
In 2021, Williams and Herbert built a rapport early on, with Williams totaling six receiving touchdowns and 471 receiving yards in the team’s first five games. That set the stage for a breakout season, with Williams setting career highs in receptions (76), targets (129) and yards (1,146) while scoring nine touchdowns.
After the 2021 season, Williams signed a $60 million, three-year extension with the Chargers.
In 2022, Williams had a back fracture that kept him out of the team’s opening playoff loss to Jacksonville. The following season, Williams sustained a season-ending ACL tear in Week 3. He was released by the Chargers early last year.
Soon after, Williams signed a one-year deal with the Jets. He was later criticized by quarterback Aaron Rodgers for running the wrong route on a pass intended for him, leading to a game-clinching interception in a loss to Buffalo.
Last November, the Jets traded Williams to the Steelers for a fifth-round draft pick. He had a combined 21 receptions for 298 yards and a touchdown for both teams.
“I don’t want to say shocking, but [I’d definitely] Senang membawanya di luar sana bersamaku, “kata Safety Derwin James tentang berita itu.
Pelatih Jim Harbaugh tidak menyebutkan keputusan Williams ketika dia berbicara dengan media Kamis sebelumnya.
“Mike selalu melakukan pekerjaan yang hebat hanya untuk muncul dan bekerja,” kata Herbert. “Dia [has] Menjadi pemimpin dan rekan setim yang sangat baik. Itulah yang paling kami hargai dan sangat mencintai tentang dia. Sangat sulit untuk menggantikan pria seperti itu. Di sana [are] Tidak terlalu banyak orang seperti Mike, dan kami pasti akan merindukannya. “
Williams membantu Clemson memenangkan Kejuaraan Nasional pada tahun 2017 dan kemudian memutuskan untuk melepaskan tahun seniornya untuk memasuki draft. Pada 2015, ia patah tulang di lehernya setelah bertabrakan dengan tiang gawang saat ia menangkap umpan touchdown.
Dengan Williams yang hilang, penerima lebar Tre Harris 'Holdout memperoleh signifikansi. Pilihan putaran kedua dari Ole Miss belum melaporkan, tetapi Herbert tidak khawatir. “Dia melakukan pekerjaan yang hebat, terutama di OTA, menebus untuk waktu itu,” kata Herbert. “Setiap kali kesepakatan itu selesai dan dia kembali, dia tidak akan ketinggalan.”
Harbaugh juga mengecilkan ketidakhadiran Harris, dengan mengatakan, “Ada sisi bisnis untuk sepak bola. Dia dan Joe Hortiz akan berhasil. Saya harap itu dilakukan lebih cepat daripada nanti. Itu fakta, seperti yang dikatakan orang muda.”
The Chargers juga menandatangani tekel Ryan Nelson dari UFL.
Nelson memulai 22 dari 28 pertandingan untuk Michigan Panthers selama tiga tahun terakhir di UFL, termasuk penampilan dalam pertandingan kejuaraan liga tahun lalu. Nelson, yang berasal dari Buena Park terdekat di Orange County, bermain empat musim di Virginia.
Pelaporan oleh Associated Press.
Ingin cerita hebat dikirimkan langsung ke kotak masuk Anda? Membuat atau masuk ke akun Fox Sports Andadan ikuti liga, tim, dan pemain untuk menerima buletin yang dipersonalisasi setiap hari!
direkomendasikan
Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
