- Isaiah Williams
- #18
- Team NYJ
- Pos WR
- Status AActive
-
Nearly scores on kickoff return
Williams didn't catch his only target in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Falcons. He also had an 83-yard kickoff return and a 16-yard punt return.
Analysis: Williams didn't make an impact on offense, but both of his returns on special teams helped lead to field goals. His 83-yard kickoff return in the third quarter set up an instant scoring opportunity for the Jets by getting the ball to Atlanta's 15-yard line, and Williams' 16-yard punt return preceded 19 yards of gains from the Jets' offense, which was just enough to set up Nick Folk's game-winning 56-yard field goal on the game's final play. Outside of formats that reward return yards, Williams…read more
Published: Sun, Nov 30 at 3:24pm by Rotowire.com
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Touches limited to special teams
Williams had four kickoff returns for 122 yards and three punt returns for 23 yards in Sunday's 23-10 loss to the Ravens.
Analysis: Williams didn't get a touch on offense as his usage on that side of the ball faded, but he contributed significantly on special teams. Kene Nwangwu (hamstring) played through a questionable tag but returned only one kickoff while Williams served as the primary kickoff returner in addition to the depth wideout's usual role returning punts. Williams' fantasy value is confined to formats that reward return yards.
Published: Sun, Nov 23 at 7:14pm by Rotowire.com
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Significant snap share in Week 11
Williams caught one of four targets for two yards, rushed once for four yards and threw an incomplete pass in Thursday's 27-14 loss to the Patriots. He also returned three punts for 18 yards and added a 24-yard kickoff return.
Analysis: Williams was on the field for 74 percent of snaps on offense, which ranked second on the team behind John Metchie. That usage was encouraging, though Williams' ceiling as a receiver remains capped in a Justin Fields-led passing game that usually doesn't sniff 200 yards through the air. Williams threw a pass to Fields on a first-quarter trick play, but it bounced off the quarterback's hand incomplete. Up next for the Jets will be a Week 12 trip to Baltimore.
Published: Fri, Nov 14 at 11:05am by Rotowire.com
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Scores 74-yard punt return TD
Williams caught his only target for four yards in Sunday's 27-20 win over the Browns. He also returned five punts for 126 yards and a touchdown and had a 23-yard kickoff return.
Analysis: Just 36 seconds of game time after Kene Nwangwu got the Jets on the board with a 99-yard kickoff-return touchdown, Williams gave the home team a 14-7 first-quarter lead with a 74-yard punt-return touchdown. Williams also tied for second on the Jets in receiving yards with four, but that's more of an indictment on the team's Justin Fields-led passing offense than a compliment to Williams' performance on offense.
Published: Mon, Nov 10 at 7:54am by Rotowire.com
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Chips in with three catches in win
Williams caught three of four targets for 31 yards and rushed once for 25 yards in Sunday's 39-38 win over the Bengals. He also tallied five kickoff returns for 132 yards and returned three punts for 38 yards.
Analysis: Williams played his usual role as a return man on special teams but also got a chance to contribute meaningfully on offense with the Jets missing wide receivers Garrett Wilson (knee) and Josh Reynolds (hip). Williams made the most of his opportunity, but his role on offense is unlikely to expand after the team's Week 9 bye.
Published: Sun, Oct 26 at 7:02pm by Rotowire.com
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Back on Jets' active roster
The Jets signed Williams from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: It's the second time Williams has been signed to the Jets' active roster this season. The second-year wideout should see most of his playing time against the Panthers on Sunday on special teams as a returner on punts and kickoffs, but he could also see some snaps on offense, as Garrett Wilson (knee) is listed as doubtful for Week 7.
Published: Sat, Oct 18 at 2:33pm by Rotowire.com
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Returns to practice squad
Williams reverted to the Jets' practice squad Sunday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Analysis: Williams was brought up to the active roster for this past Sunday's loss to Denver and played all 12 of his snaps on special teams. He worked as New York's primary return man in the contest, logging 59 kickoff-return and 32 punt-return yards. Williams served in a similar role earlier in the campaign when he was on the 53-man roster before being cut Oct. 4. He's played just one offensive snap over four contests so far this season.
Published: Mon, Oct 13 at 6:56pm by Rotowire.com
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Elevated for London contest
The Jets elevated Williams from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports.
Analysis: The Jets waived Williams on Oct. 4, but he was back with the team after signing with the practice squad Monday. He has mostly played on special teams this season as a returner on punts and kickoffs, and he'll likely reprise that role during Sunday's game against the Broncos in London, England.
Published: Sat, Oct 11 at 5:23pm by Rotowire.com
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Back with New York
Williams was signed to the Jets' practice squad Monday, Susanna Weir of the team's official website reports.
Analysis: Williams was waived by the team Saturday before New York lost to the Cowboys, 37-22. The wide receiver has returned two punts for 29 yards and three kickoffs for 70 yards over three contests with the Jets this season, but he lost a fumble in the team's 27-21 loss to the Dolphins in Week 4. Fellow wideout Avery Williams operated as the Jets' primary return specialist in Week 5, but he reverted to the practice squad Monday.
Published: Mon, Oct 6 at 6:03pm by Rotowire.com
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Cut Saturday
The Jets waived Williams on Saturday.
Analysis: Williams returned one kickoff for 30 yards and one punt for 18 yards Monday night against the Dolphins but lost a critical fumble. He'll now look for a new opportunity elsewhere, though the Jets could bring him back on the practice squad.
Published: Sat, Oct 4 at 4:39pm by Rotowire.com
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Involved as return man
Williams returned two kickoffs for 40 yards and added an 11-yard punt return in Sunday's 30-10 loss to the Bills.
Analysis: Williams immediately jumped into a prominent role on special teams after signing with the Jets on Wednesday following the team's move to waive previous punt returner Xavier Gipson. Isaiah Davis had five kickoff returns, but Williams was the only player to return a punt for the Jets. Williams is unlikely to see much involvement on offense, even once he grows more familiar with his new surroundings.
Published: Sun, Sep 14 at 7:00pm by Rotowire.com
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Picked up by Gang Green
The Jets signed Williams off the Bengals' practice squad Wednesday.
Analysis: The second-year wideout spent time with the Bengals and Lions in 2024, catching two of his three targets for six yards and recording 169 kick-return yards over eight total appearances. With New York waiving Xavier Gipson on Wednesday and Kene Nwangwu (hamstring) potentially sidelined, Williams now will be an option to return kicks in the Jets' Week 2 matchup against the Dolphins.
Published: Wed, Sep 10 at 9:45am by Rotowire.com
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Sticks with Bengals organization
Williams signed with Cincinnati's practice squad Wednesday.
Analysis: Williams failed to win a roster spot with the Bengals in 2025 after suiting up for six regular-season games with them in 2024, as well as two with Detroit. He'll likely remain on the practice squad barring an injury to return man Charlie Jones.
Published: Wed, Aug 27 at 11:48am by Rotowire.com
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Goes to waivers
The Bengals waived Williams on Tuesday.
Analysis: Williams played eight games as an undrafted rookie last season and mostly worked as a returner, but he couldn't secure the job in Cincinnati with Charlie Jones on board. If Williams clears waivers, he'll likely seek a practice-squad role.
Published: Tue, Aug 26 at 7:46pm by Rotowire.com
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Works mostly as returner in 2024
Williams caught two of three targets for six yards over eight regular-season games in 2024. He added 169 yards on five kick returns and 93 yards on 11 punt returns.
Analysis: Considering that he went unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Williams did pretty well for himself by seeing action in eight contests. Two of those came with Detroit, with the remainder coming with Cincinnati after the Bengals claimed him off waivers in early November. Williams isn't slated to reach free agency until 2027, so he should compete for a depth wideout role with the ability to contribute in the return game again next season.
Published: Fri, Feb 14 at 9:44pm by Rotowire.com
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Coming to Cincinnati
The Bengals claimed Williams off waivers Friday.
Analysis: Williams, an undrafted rookie from Illinois, appeared in two games with the Lions before being waived Thursday, catching two of his three targets for six yards across just eight offensive snaps. He'll likely serve as a depth piece in Cincinnati's wide receiver room as the season progresses.
Published: Fri, Nov 8 at 3:15pm by Rotowire.com
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Cut by Detroit
The Lions waived Williams on Thursday.
Analysis: With Jameson Williams due back from his two-game suspension this week, Williams is the odd man out in Detroit's wide-receiver room. In two appearances this season, Williams caught two passes for six yards on three targets. He's a candidate to land on the Lions' practice squad if he clears waivers.
Published: Thu, Nov 7 at 2:28pm by Rotowire.com
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Inactive Monday
Williams (coach's decision) is inactive for Monday's game against the Seahawks.
Analysis: The wide receiver missed the last two games with an abdomen injury but was not listed on the injury report as of Thursday. Williams has yet to appear in a game this season. The Illinois product signed with Detroit as an undrafted free agent in May.
Published: Mon, Sep 30 at 4:15pm by Rotowire.com
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Clears injury report
Williams (abdomen) was not listed on the Lions' injury report Thursday.
Analysis: Williams was yet to appear in a regular-season game, and he missed the Lions' last two contests due to an abdomen injury. He now appears to be past the issue, and the 23-year-old rookie wide receiver will look to make his NFL debut against the Seahawks on Monday.
Published: Thu, Sep 26 at 2:43pm by Rotowire.com
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Questionable to play Week 3
Williams (abdomen) has been deemed questionable to play Sunday versus the Cardinals.
Analysis: Williams didn't play Week 2 against the Buccaneers due to an abdominal issue, and the injury kept him limited in all three of the Lions' practices this week. As such, he seems to be a true question mark for Sunday's clash with the Cardinals. Even if Williams is cleared to play Week 3, he isn't likely to see much, if any, work on offense because he's at the bottom of Detroit's wideout depth chart.
Published: Fri, Sep 20 at 4:37pm by Rotowire.com
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Limited Wednesday
Williams (abdomen) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
Analysis: It appears Williams is still nursing the abdomen injury that held him out of the Lions' Week 2 loss to the Buccaneers. The rookie from Illinois' NFL debut could be put on hold again if he's not past this abdomen issue by Sunday. His practice participation Thursday and Friday will likely provide a better indication of his availability for Week 3.
Published: Wed, Sep 18 at 2:11pm by Rotowire.com
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Missing Week 2
Williams (abdomen) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.
Analysis: The rookie wideout from Illinois popped up on the Lions' injury report Thursday with an abdominal issue, and after logging a DNP on Friday, he's been ruled out for Week 2. As of now, the only wide receivers on the Lions' active roster without injury designations are Amon-Ra St. Brown and Kalif Raymond.
Published: Fri, Sep 13 at 1:59pm by Rotowire.com
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Pops up on injury report
Williams (abdomen) was listed as limited on Thursday's practice report.
Analysis: Williams practiced in full Wednesday, so this is a step backward for the Illinois product. He'll have an opportunity to ramp his activity level back up Friday, and his status for the session should offer further clarity on his chances of suiting up Sunday against the Buccaneers.
Published: Thu, Sep 12 at 1:44pm by Rotowire.com
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