Tag: Mike Williams

Sights and sounds from first half as Eagles hold a 17-13 lead over Steelers

Sights and sounds from first half as Eagles hold a 17-13 lead over Steelers

Philadelphia established its passing game and was dominant on defense, but the scoreboard tells a different story as the Eagles hold just a 17-13 lead over Pittsburgh after one half.

Vic Fangio’s defense held the Steelers to just 80 yards of offense on 30 plays in the first half, but two costly Eagles turnovers and two Chris Boswell field goals have Mike Tomlin’s team within four.

With the second half set to begin, we’re looking at sights and sounds from the first half.

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Who misses who more: Diontae Johnson or the Pittsburgh Steelers?

With Pickens injured and Johnson causing drama in Baltimore, itā€™s unclear whoā€™s missing who moreā€”Diontae Johnson or the Steelers.

What a difference a week makes! Heading into Week 14, the Pittsburgh Steelers WR room seemed to have found its groove: the alpha in George Pickens, the deep threat in Calvin Austin III, and the big-bodied Mike Williams. However, following a last-minute hamstring injury to Pickens, which may jeopardize his availability over the next few weeks, the Steelers may regret trading away former All-Pro WR Diontae Johnson this past offseason.

Johnson was traded to the Carolina Panthers nine months ago in March 2024 for CB Donte Jackson, and was then traded to the Baltimore Ravens on October 29. There appears to be an issue with Johnson’s usage in the Ravens’ offensive scheme, leading to him refusing to play during Baltimore’s Week 13 contest against the Eagles, resulting in a one-game suspension.

While fans may be quick to disparage Johnsonā€™s value for drama-related reasons, Pickens may have ultimately been more dramatic and disruptive this season.

Nevertheless, the only exception is the fantastic acquisition of Jackson, with WR depth still an issue and Johnson unhappy in Baltimore; both sides likely would have benefitted if the trade had never taken place.

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Could Odell Beckham Jr. sign with the receiver-hungry Steelers?

With the Pittsburgh Steelers in desperate need of WR help, could the team potentially sign the recently released Odell Beckham Jr.?

In what is shaping up to be an up-and-down roller coaster for the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver room over the past few weeks, one recently released Miami Dolphins receiver could make all the difference for the Black and Gold.

Former All-Pro WR Odell Beckham Jr. and the Dolphins have mutually agreed to part ways, with Beckham seeking opportunities for playing time elsewhere.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were in desperate need of receiver help heading into the 2024 regular season, and it remains their biggest area of concern with major implications looming over the next few weeks.

With Steelers WR George Pickens out with a hamstring injury and no return date given, Beckham and the Steel City seem like a match made in Heaven.

Beckham would instantly be an upgrade to the depleted Steelers wide receiver room, and when Pickens is healthy, this terrifying tandem would be tough for opposing secondaries to contain. In the meantime, Pittsburgh Steelers WRs Calvin Austin III, Mike Williams, Van Jefferson, and Scotty Miller will do their best to fill the void left by Pickens.

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Week 15: Should you drop George Pickens in fantasy football?

Fantasy football managers may need to decide whether to keep George Pickens on their roster as he may miss the entirety of their playoffs.

For the lucky few fantasy football fanatics who have made it into the playoffs, congratulations are in order! However, if Steelers WR George Pickens is on your roster, things may be looking grim.

While league settings may vary, the majority of fantasy football leagues will be playing their playoffs between Weeks 15 and 17ā€”the weeks Pickens might miss, according to one Steelers insider.

It is unlikely Pickens will end up on IR, forcing fantasy managers to decide if the Steelers WR is worth keeping around ultimately. His absence from Week 15 is all but confirmed, and insiders seem to agree that Pickens may not be able to recover from his hamstring injury in time for Weeks 16 and 17.

If Pickens is on your roster, it is important to consider when, if at all, he will return to action in the regular season. Can your roster sustain having the Pittsburgh Steelers WR taking up a spot on the bench, or will you ultimately need to let him go in favor of some other potential breakout Steelers players, like WR Mike Williams, WR Calvin Austin III, or TE Pat Freiermuth?

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Calvin Austin on the ugly truth: There’s no replacing George Pickens

Calvin Austin discusses the challenge of replacing George Pickens and emphasizes the collective effort of the receivers and coaching staff.

Calvin Austin may be an honorary member of the George Pickens fan club, or he could be the most realistic man in all of Pittsburgh.

While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Austin made it clear that when it comes to Pickens and his time away with a hamstring injury, there is no way to replace him with another Steelers wide receiver: “It’s hard to say anybody is similar to GP.”

Austin continued to shift the focus and pressure away from one specific player stepping up to replace Pickens, placing emphasis on the coaching staff’s ability to utilize all of the Steelers’ wide receivers’ unique strengths: “Everybody in the receiver room has different skill setsā€”different strengthsā€”and the coaching staff knows that. They know how to put us in the position to be able to show that.”

Austin hit the nail right on the headā€”it will take all wide receivers and coaches to overcome the loss of talent that Pickens brings to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Steelers WR Mike Williams faces pressure to step up as team adjusts without George Pickens

Mike Williams must step up as Steelers adjust without George Pickens, whoā€™s doubtful with a hamstring injury. Can he deliver in Week 15?

It’s been five weeks since wide receiver Mike Williams joined the Pittsburgh Steelers via the New York Jets at the trade deadline. Of course, there’s a period of acclimation to a new system, but Steelers Nation fans has been eager to see more from Williams, especially given the teamā€™s lack of depth behind George Pickens.

So far, through five games, Williams has caught four of five targets for 68 yards and a touchdown. Those numbers are not reflective of the No. 2 wide receiver fans thought Williams would be.

Perhaps with a full week of preparation without Pickens — doubtful for the Philadelphia Eagles matchup with a “significant” hamstring injury — Williams will play a more prominent role in Week 15.

Williams has a golden opportunity to step into a larger role. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin noted Williams’ progress in practice but remained cautious about his fit in the offense.

Keep watching. Very much in development. We’ve seen some quality play-making in practice. I thought last weekend was a significant step in seeing some more. Let’s hope that continues.

With Pickens likely sidelined for an undetermined period, there’s no better time for offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to lean on Williams’ playmaking ability as the team faces the nine-game win streak Eagles. Can Williams seize the moment and deliver when the Steelers need him most?

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Florida freshman O-lineman announces transfer intentions

Mike Williams signed with Florida a year ago, but he’ll hit the transfer portal this offseason in search of more playing time. Williams redshirted and did not see the field this year.

Florida freshman offensive lineman [autotag]Mike Williams[/autotag] announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal on Monday.

“To Coach Nap (Billy Napier), Coach (Rob) Sale, and the University of Florida staff, thank you for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my dreams of playing football and for all you have done for me over the past year,” he wrote on Twitter.

“To Gator Nation, thank you for your unwavering support and for making me feel so welcomed. This place and you all will forever hold a special place in my heart. To my teammates, the brotherhood we’ve built is unmatched, and I’ve found lifelong friends here. With that being said, I am entering the transfer portal with four years of eligibility remaining.”

Williams signed with the Gators as a member of the class of 2024 out of Charles Herbert Flowers High in Baltimore, Maryland. He did not see action in his lone year with the program. 247Sports graded him out as a three-star recruit, ranked No. 1,306 overall and No. 103 among offensive tackles, while On3 had him at Nos. 1,083 and 75, respectively.

Head coach Billy Napier spoke highly of Williams on early signing day last year, noting a high football IQ and overall “presence.” Williams has four years of eligibility remaining.

Williams is the sixth Gator to announce a transfer decision following walk-on safety Ahmad Covington, edge defenders Justus Boone, Bryce Capers (walk-on) and Quincy Ivory (JUCO transfer, 2023) and wide receiver Andy Jean.

Florida’s options at offensive tackle in 2025

Florida’s offensive tackle situation will be one to monitor over the offseason with starting left tackle Austin Barber possibly leaving for the NFL draft and starting right tackle and San Diego State transfer Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson out of eligibility.

Barber, a redshirt junior this season, has one more year of eligibility remaining and could opt to stay with the program to anchor the offensive line for another year.

Backup tackle Devon Manuel also has another year of eligibility, but Florida may opt to add someone from the transfer portal rather than elevate him to a starting role.

Redshirt freshman Caden Jones (17) and true freshman Fletcher Westphal (12) also got snaps at tackle this year. Redshirt junior Kamryn Waites and redshirt freshman Bryce Lovett were used at guard this season but could shift out to tackle if needed for depth.

The Gators are set to add a pair of freshmen offensive tackles to the roster come early signing day, four-star Tavaris Dice and three-star Jahari Medlock.

Walk-ons Mark Faircloth and Mark Pitts both saw action in blowout games this season.

Follow usĀ @GatorsWireĀ on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page onĀ FacebookĀ to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Did the Steelers lose the WR Mike Williams trade?

Mike Williams continues to struggle for playing time and production with the Steelers, raising questions about the trade’s value.

Another week of Black and Gold football, another week of disappointment for fans hoping to see the not-so-newly acquired WR Mike Williams make an impact for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Critics of the Steelers’ use of Williams appear to be beating a dead horse, as he continues to see minimal involvement despite being in Pittsburgh for almost a month now.

Even with WR Calvin Austin III sidelined due to an injury in Week 13ā€”and the NFL commentary team suggesting that Williams should be able to contribute with a better understanding of the playbookā€”the wide receiver finished with an unimpressive stat line of zero targets, zero catches, zero total yards, and just 17 total snaps on offense against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Since being acquired by Pittsburgh, Williams has played only seven, 15, and 11 snaps in Weeks 10ā€“12, respectively. To make matters worse, Austin and WR Van Jefferson have been steadily outperforming him.

Once again, Williams finds himself buried in a crowded wide receiver room, and at this point, it seems Steelers GM Omar Khan traded a 2025 fifth-round pick to the New York Jets, and took on Williams’ remaining salary, for practically nothing.

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Will WR Mike Williams have his Steelers breakout game in Week 13?

Mike Williams has struggled to shine in Pittsburgh, but Cincinnati’s defensive flaws may finally give him the chance for a breakout.

WR Mike Williams’ journey with the Pittsburgh Steelers has been up-and-down, to say the least. From being acquired from the New York Jets to scoring the game-winning TD in Week 10, to being practically nonexistent on offense the past two weeks, could Williams finally have his breakout moment in Week 13?

Williams could benefit from a below-average Cincinnati pass defense, as the Bengals are ranked 23rd in passing yards per game, allowing 225.6 yards. The big-bodied Williams could also see additional red zone opportunities, as his first and only Steelers reception went for a TD. Heā€™ll face one of the NFL’s worst red zone defenses in Week 13. The Bengals currently rank 31st in TDs allowed in the red zone and 30th in total TDs allowed.

QB Russell Wilson should have plenty of time to throw to Williams on Sunday as well, as Cincinnati’s defense has one of the league’s worst sack percentages, ranking 30th at 4.88%.

Williams is due for a Black and Gold breakout game in 2024, and Cincinnati’s weaknesses could provide the former Jets WR with the chance to make it happen.

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What is going on with WR Mike Williams?

The Steelersā€™ wide receiver room has seen changes, but questions remain about WR Mike Williamsā€™ role in the teamā€™s offensive strategy.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Such is the life of the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers‘ wide receiver room. While the Steelers addressed potential depth issues through free agency, the draft, and the trade deadline with WRs Van Jefferson, Roman Wilson, and Mike Williams respectively, there has been almost nothing from these three to show for it.

Specifically, much of the hype surrounding the Williams acquisition leaves fans scratching their heads over why his usage has been so minimal.

His Week 10 debut saw him score the game-deciding TD, but he hasn’t received a single target in either Week 11 or Week 12’s contest.

In his recent disappearing act, Calvin Austin III has stepped up in a big way, but it doesnā€™t excuse the Steelersā€™ poor usage of Wilson.

The issue likely stems from the offensive scheme, much to the frustration of fans, as OC Arthur Smithā€™s predictable running calls have limited the Steelersā€™ passing opportunities in recent weeks.

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