The Los Angeles Chargers made a significant move on Wednesday afternoon. Los Angeles parted ways with veteran wide receiver Mike Williams, ending a long tenure with the team.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the news of Williams’ release.
“The Chargers are releasing WR Mike Williams, making him a free agent,” Rapoport said on X, the website formerly known as Twitter. Rapoport noted also that Williams was due for a $32 million cap hit. Which, in all likelihood, explains the decision to cut him.
Williams played just three games last season with the Chargers and 13 during the 2022 NFL season. Injury concerns and otherwise were too much for LA to be willing to deal with, especially with the reported $32 million cap hit.
Over his seven-year career, Williams recorded 309 receptions, 4,806 yards, and 31 touchdowns. He went over 1,000 yards twice as a wide receiver – in 2019 and 2021. In 2019, Williams led the NFL in yards per reception at a whopping 20.4 (49 receptions for 1,001 yards). He hit a career-high in touchdowns in 2021 when he pulled in nine. In fact, 2021 was a career year for him, and he hit highs in receptions (76) and receiving yards (1,146).
Time will tell to see where he lands next. While he has piled up some injury issues, a short-term contract and a flier on him wouldn’t be the worst move to make.
Nonetheless, the NFL world had much to say.
About Chris Novak
Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022