Adding a playmaker: It didn’t take long for newly acquired receiver Mike Williams to get into the groove with his new team, practicing on Wednesday for the first time after he learned he was traded from the New York Jets to the Steelers.
Williams said he learned of the trade after he had multiple missed phone calls on Tuesday.
“I was asleep,” said Williams. “I was feeling like my phone vibrating, but I thought I was dreaming. It was five missed calls from my agent and then the GM from the Jets called me and told me about the trade.
“Excited for the opportunity. Happy to be here. Looking forward to it. Ready to get this thing rolling.
“It’s exciting. It starts up front, the running game. And then everybody sees plays that the receivers make. GP (George Pickens) going out there, making big time plays every game. So, adding me just added another threat, a guy that can go out there and make plays.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity. I’m a playmaker. I want to make plays. I want to get the ops. I’m going to go out and work and show that I deserve to be on the field.”
Williams got a chance to make some plays in his first practice with the team, even staying on the field after practice with the other receivers to get extra work in.
He is excited about the prospect of working with Russell Wilson, a quarterback he said everyone is familiar with what he brings.
“Russ, everybody sees it,” said Williams. “He puts the work in. Time in, time out. A leader on and off the field.
“I’m just very thankful to have a guy like that, a quarterback on this team. A leader to put us in the right position to be successful.”
Williams knows it will take some time to get into a rhythm with Wilson, but he is willing to work at it.
“I’m looking forward to getting more reps in off to the side with him,” said Williams. “Getting that connection down. Seeing the spots he likes. Where I like the ball so we can be on the same page.”
Williams said what role he will have on the team, especially at the outset, is something they haven’t talked about yet and he is just taking things day-to-day.
“I had a pretty good day today,” said Williams. “I’ve been in quite a bit. I was moving around everywhere. I’m trying to learn as much as possible. You never know what can happen, people move, things change. So, I’m just learning all the positions. I got some reps with Russ also.
“So, keep building the rest of the week and see where we are on Sunday.”
Williams said he didn’t know where he would end up in a trade, or if he would definitely be traded, but he did hear his name out there in the rumor mill, and even had some fans bring it up to him when the Jets played the Steelers in Week 7 at Acrisure Stadium.
“That was crazy,” said Willimas. “When we played here, the people were in the stands telling me don’t go back, stay, don’t take the plane back. I thought it was funny.”