With 601 tackles, 15.5 sacks and 85 starts on his resume, Avery Williamson isn’t a typical practice squad linebacker.
The Denver Broncos have signed linebacker Avery Williamson to their practice squad, the team announced Tuesday evening.
Denver also signed wide receiver Josh Malone to the practice squad on Tuesday. To make room for Williamson and Malone, the Broncos released guard/center Harry Crider and cornerback Rojesterman Farris.
Williamson (6-1, 246 pounds) is not a typical practice squad player. The 29-year-old defender has started in 85 games since entering the league as a fifth-round pick out of Kentucky in 2014.
While playing for the Tennessee Titans, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, Williams totaled 601 tackles, 17 pass breakups, 15.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and four interceptions in 94 career games. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Williamson eventually get promoted to Denver’s 53-man roster.
Williamson and fellow inside linebacker Dylan Cole tried out for the Broncos on Tuesday and Williamson won the tryout. Denver was looking to add more depth at the position after losing Josey Jewell and Jonas Griffith to injuries.
The Broncos’ 16-player practice squad is now full.
Avery Williamson and Dylan Cole visited the team’s UCHealth Training Center, presumably as potential candidates for the practice squad.
Williamson (6-1, 246 pounds) is a 29-year-old linebacker who entered the league as a fifth-round pick out of Kentucky with the Tennessee Titans in 2014. After spending the first four years of his career in Tennessee, Williamson went on to play for the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers.
In 94 career games (85 starts), Williamson has totaled 607 tackles, 17 pass breakups, 15.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and four interceptions.
Cole (6-0, 237 pounds) is a 27-year-old defender who joined the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri State in 2017. He spent four years with the Texans, totaling 45 tackles, two interceptions and one sack in 37 games (one start).
Denver currently has one open spot on the practice squad.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Buffalo Bills tonight, they’ll have some intel in their back pocket, and its name is Avery Williamson.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Buffalo Bills tonight, they’ll have some intel in their back pocket, and its name is Avery Williamson.
Initially, the Steelers signed the 7th-year linebacker in November to solidify depth when Devin Bush went down. Fast forward 38 days, and Williamson is being thrust into his first start in the Black and Gold after Vince Williams was placed on Reserve/COVID-19 list and Robert Spillane went to injured reserve on Saturday.
With Williamson comes familiarity with Buffalo, as the Jets played the Bills twice in seven weeks this season. Williamson did not play in the first Bills matchup — he was being eased into action after an ACL tear stripped him of the entire 2019 season. But he was active for Week 7 and made it a good one, racking up a team-leading 13 tackles. It was only one game; still, Williamson feels he can use that to his advantage.
“I know that they definitely got some tendencies,” said Williamson in a press conference last week. “We game-planned for them pretty well that second game with the Jets. It was a close game. I’m definitely going to use what I learned that week and transfer some of it over to now.”
Though Williamson was itching to play from the moment he set foot in Pittsburgh, he admits the acclimation period was helpful.
“I feel a whole lot better with where I’m at,” Williamson said. “I definitely thought I was ready the first week I got here, but I wasn’t nowhere near ready. It took a little time. I’ve never been in a situation where I been traded and had to learn a whole new playbook in the middle of the season. … I feel a whole lot more comfortable.”
Pittsburgh had the luxury of easing Williamson into the defense, as it wasn’t urgent he take on a big role immediately. His 38 snaps last week were the most he’s had since signing with Pittsburgh.
Williamson took over calling plays for Spillane after his exit last week, which instilled confidence enough for Pittsburgh to tab him as play-caller versus Buffalo. It won’t be his first rodeo, though; Williamson called defensive plays with the Jets.
Is Avery Williamson ready to take over the play-calling duties for the Steelers this week?
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Avery Williamson said on Zoom call that he wore the green dot after Rob Spillane was hurt against Washington, and he expects to call the plays against Buffalo now that Vince Williams is also out.
Linebacker Avery Williamson has been a Pittsburgh Steeler for four games. In those four games, he has played 81 defensive snaps. In Williamson’s eighth game in Pittsburgh, he will be in charge of making the defensive play calls against the Buffalo Bills.
But due to last week’s injury to Robert Spillane and the loss of Vince Williams to the Reserve/COVID-19 list, Williamson is the next man up in terms of running the defense from his inside linebacker position.
I’d love to say this is no big deal because obviously if the Steelers coaches are confident in Williamson to call the defenses and this won’t be an issue. But we saw last week some communication problems against the Washington Football Team in the second half that led to some big plays. Let’s hope a full week of practice as the playcaller will help Williamson and the entire defense get on the same page before they take on a very talented Bills offense.
Tackle Zach “Hulk” Banner got his parents in on his tweet. Banner has something extra to be thankful for this season. He was placed on injured reserve after tearing his ACL in the first game of the season but can now walk brace-less.
I’m extremely thankful for my parents, and grateful that the rehab process has been going so well. I’m 2 weeks into walking without a brace and we just did a 3 mile walk together to celebrate. I hope everyone has a great and safe Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving!! So much to be thankful for on this amazing day! Everyone be safe and enjoy and cherish every moment with friends and family! #Grateful 🙏🏼🙏🏼
If Williamson’s career is any indication, his acquisition will pay dividends.
Devin Bush, the anchor of the vaunted Steelers defense, has been out since Week 6, and his loss left a gaping and noticeable hole.
No one thought a single player, even a rotation, could make up for his loss. While Robert Spillane has played admirably in Bush’s place, the Steelers knew it was time to get serious.
While Williamson has both metrics against the pass and the run, his strength certainly lies with the run. Per Pro Football Focus, for his career, the linebacker grades at 70.0 run, 51.0 pass rush, 30.5 coverage.
Between weeks 1 and 9, the defense had allowed just 3.4 yards per attempt inside the tackles (6th), according to Next Gen Stats. They need to continue that high level of production of between-the-tackles runners, which is where Williamson can be best used as reinforcement.
Here’s what Williamson’s inside run defense snaps look like:
Left: 1,282
Right: 1,459
Total tackles: 299
Only missed one tackle this season; 21 for career
Though nothing has been reported on Williamson playing this week, I would imagine he will play. He was activated Week 9 versus the Cowboys but never set foot on the playing field. Sure, he’s still getting antiquated with Pittsburgh’s playbook. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t make much sense to trade for a player and not get him involved as quickly as possible — especially in this of a critical role.
The new Steelers linebacker will fit in just fine in Pittsburgh.
Avery Williamson struck gold on Sunday when he was informed he was being traded from the worst to the best.
“Going to an undefeated team is kinda crazy,” Williamson said in an interview with Barstool Sports’ Joey Mulinaro. “But everyone [Jets teammates] was super supportive. I’m gonna miss my guys.”
Williamson comes to Pittsburgh as a player who already embodies the Steelers Way — he is confident about his talents but remains humble.
“I’m a tackling machine. I get to the rock. I’m always trying to get the ball out. I’m gonna make stuff happen — whether it’s a forced fumble, a sack, TFL… I feel like this team is set up for linebackers to make a lot of plays.”
“I haven’t been part of the seven wins that they’ve accomplished,” said Williamson. “I’m just ready to get to work with these guys, get to know them and learn this playbook — share some sweat with these guys.”
courtesy of @awilliamson54 IG
The Steelers are on the right path, but Williamson fully understands that there’s a long road ahead for the team.
“The job isn’t finished until we get that Lombardi,” he said.
The seven-year veteran has 546 tackles (26 for loss) and 14.5 sacks. He also has four interceptions, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 17 pass breakups.
Though he’s only a “rental,” Avery Williamson will fit in just fine in Pittsburgh.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin says making the trade for Williamson was the ‘prudent thing to do.’
News broke during Sunday Night Football that the Steelers were indeed making an in-season trade after all.
Depth was uncomfortably thin at inside linebacker after Pittsburgh lost Devin Bush for the year. While Robert Spillane been playing lights-out, the Steelers needed to solidify their linebacker corps.
They did so by bringing in veteran Avery Williamson via a trade with the New York Jets. Pittsburgh sent their fifth-round 2022 pick in exchange for the linebacker and New York’s 2022 seventh round.
Selected in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans, Williamson signed with the Jets in free agency in 2018. He enjoyed a team-high 120 tackles that season but tore his ACL during the preseason last year and underwent season-ending surgery.
Williamson, 28, has appeared in seven games (six starts) this year and recorded 59 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception.
Being signed by the Steelers reunites him with outside linebacker Bud Dupree, who was his teammate at Kentucky. Williamson recorded 296 tackles (10 for loss), four sacks and two interceptions with the Wildcats.
“At the early stages of his career, he played in Tennessee in a system of defense that was very similar to ours, not only in terms of how it was constructed but also the language itself,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said in his weekly press conference. “He’s a guy who fortifies depth in an area in which we’ve been challenged recently.”
“So at the trade deadline, we thought it was necessary, if we had an opportunity, to get a known commodity, one like Avery Williamson who we were somewhat familiar with and who was somewhat familiar with our schematics, and put him into the fold.
“With as much ball as we have that lies ahead, it was a prudent thing to do, and we’re excited about having him.”
In his seven-year career, Williamson has 546 tackles (26 for loss) and 14.5 sacks. He also has four interceptions, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 17 pass defenses.
Ulysees Gilbert, who everyone was hoping would contribute this season, has not been able to stay healthy. He injured his back in college and it’s been an on-and-off issue ever since. On Wednesday, Gilbert was placed on injured reserve for the second time in as many seasons.
Expect the division of labor to be between Spillane, Williamson and safety-turned-linebacker Marcus Allen.
The Jets are ranked 32nd in USA TODAY’s NFL power rankings at the midway point of the season.
The Jets are at the halfway point of their season and their 0-8 record isn’t helping them move up in USA TODAY’s NFL Power Rankings.
New York is ranked 32nd for yet another week following its 35-9 loss to the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. Inside the AFC East, the Bills are ranked ninth, the Dolphins are ranked 14th and the Patriots are ranked 25th.
Prior to the deadline, the Jets traded their best inside linebacker, Avery Williamson, for a 2022 fifth-round draft pick. While the Jets didn’t make any trades after that, it’s pretty clear that they are focused on their draft picks over the next couple of years.
As for the rest of this season, the remaining Jets have eight games to prove why they should stick around next season. The Jets only have 35 players on under contract next season, so these remaining games could determine who Joe Douglas wants to bring back in 2021.
The Jets also don’t want to go down as one of the worst team’s in NFL history. The 2008 Detroit Lions and the 2017 Cleveland Browns are the only two teams in NFL history to finish with an 0-16 record. New York is halfway there at 0-8 and there is a growing sense that they will join the list.
As for the other end of the spectrum, the Steelers, Chiefs, Seahawks, Bucs and Ravens rounded out the top five in the power rankings.
Evaluating the 2020 NFL trade deadline for the Buffalo Bills.
The Buffalo Bills were sitting at 6-2 as the NFL trade deadline expired with the team not making any sort of changes. That may have come as a surprise due to the fact that the team’s general manager, Brandon Beane, has a reputation of being one of the best general managers in the NFL.
The Bills have problems that’s a fact, so let’s take a look at a few of these problems, how severe they are, and if the anything could have been addressed at the trade deadline:
Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes. Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Pass rush
The Bills have recorded 19 sacks this season, which is tied for ninth in the league, but they aren’t generating consistent pressure. According to Pro Football Reference, the Bills have only hurried opposing quarterbacks 16 times, which is tied for 30th . They have also only hurried the quarterback on 5.4% of dropbacks, which is tied for last in the league (Titans). To put this into more context, the Steelers, the league leader in both categories, have hurried the quarterback 38 times, which means they’re hurrying the quarterback on 13.9% of their plays. Per PFF, the Steelers have generated the most pressure on opposing quarterbacks per dropback, at an outstanding 33.9% of passes. The Bills on the other hand are sitting at 19th in the league by generating pressure on 19.2% of dropbacks.
The Ravens acquired premier pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue from the Vikings. The Ravens sent over a 2021 third-round pick and a 2020 fifth rounmder. Since 2016 Ngakoue has had 42.5 sacks, the Ravens spent pennies on the dollar for one of the best pass rushers in the league.
Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley/ Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Pass catchers
When the Bills traded for Stefon Diggs in the offseason their receiving corps looked infallible. The trio of Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley, and John Brown had the potential to be the best trio of receivers in the NFL, but halfway through the season it hasn’t quite panned out. Diggs has lived up to his billing so far though. He’s second in the NFL with 695 receiving yards, he’s caught 54 passes, and has three receiving touchdowns.
The rest of the receivers haven’t been up to snuff. Brown, the Bills’ No. 1 receiver from last season, has just 15 catches for 215 yards, and two touchdowns. In most games, Brown is a non-factor with the likes of Gabe Davis, Beasley, and tight en Tyler Kroft out performing the speedster. Speaking of Davis, he had a bright start to start the season, but in the last four games he has been another non-factor. Receivers haven’t been the only disappointment though, Buffalo’s tight ends haven’t produced consistently.
The two starting tight ends, Dawson Knox and Kroft, have just 211 yards and two touchdowns combined. If Buffalo wants to contend they will need to see more production from their tight ends and the rest of their receivers.
Could this have been fixed at the trade deadline? Yes and no.
While this is a cop-out answer, this is due to that not many pass catchers were traded during the regular season. But receiver John Ross III of the Cincinnati Bengals tweeted that he requested a trade from the team.
