As if the Pittsburgh Steelers’ dwindling list of wide receiver options wasn’t small enough, another name might’ve been eliminated Thursday night. And it was the most likely one of all. The New York Jets recorded a desperately needed victory over the Houston Texans to kick off Week 9, ending their losing streak and getting them to 3-6. Hardly the place they want to be but a win ahead of the trade deadline may convince them to hang onto WR Mike Williams after all.
Not only will the Jets have a more optimistic lens of the season, trading Williams would hurt their depth chart more than initially expected. Earlier Thursday, the team placed WR Allen Lazard on injured reserve due to a chest injury, shifting Williams to third on the depth chart. Without him, there’s little behind Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson, especially after rookie Malachi Corley’s gaffe of dropping the ball before crossing the end zone, turning a touchdown into turnover.
Even before the Texans and Jets kicked off, the winds began to blow in the “keep Williams” direction. ESPN Jets beat writer Rich Cimini pointed out that Williams’ value has gone up in Lazard’s absence.
“The Jets are more likely to retain Mike Williams instead of making him available for trades,” Cimini wrote.
Pregame, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler echoed a similar sentiment.
“The Jets have been open to trading Mike Williams,” Fowler said on SportsCenter. “Williams is open to a trade himself, and there is interest. However, I’m told for this particular game, he’s been in a good spot with the coaching staff. They had a good talk with him. They’re trying to put all the trade rumors to bed for this game and that he could be a focal point to what they’re doing tonight. If they win and he’s a big part of it, maybe they hold onto him.”
Williams wasn’t a focal point of the win, finishing with one catch for six yards on two targets. He did draw a fourth-down penalty in the second half, keeping a Jets drive alive. Adams and Wilson stole the show. Adams caught his first touchdown pass as a Jet while Wilson had the catch of the year (and for those asking, one shin equals both feet, the difference between his and George Pickens’ non-score).
But with the Jets winning Thursday night and Williams playing more snaps thanks to Lazard’s injury, they might decide against parting with him. After all, their compensation would be minimal, a sixth-round pick at absolute best.
If Williams is off the board, so might be the Steelers. The New York Giants don’t seem open to dealing Darius Slayton – even though they should – and other options are scant. Unless the Broncos have a change of heart with Courtland Sutton — remember they turned down a third-round pick from San Francisco at the start of the year and now find themselves in the AFC Wild Card race — there’s little else out there who could truly move the needle.
Perhaps the Las Vegas Raiders’ Jakobi Meyers. Perhaps someone else. Or perhaps the Steelers stand pat with what they’ve got, the outcome of every trade rumor this year.
