Tag: Shawn Williams

Report: Bengals get injury updates on Renell Wren, Shawn Williams

The Cincinnati Bengals are dealing with new injuries to Renell Wren and Shawn Williams.

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The Cincinnati Bengals have lost two defenders to the injury cart this week at training camp and it turns out at least one of those could miss the entire 2020 season.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, defensive tackle Renell Wren could miss the entire season if he opts for surgery to fix a “significant quadriceps injury.”

In a bit of better news, safety Shawn Willaims could reportedly be ready to go for Week 1: “On the other hand, there’s optimism on #Bengals S Shawn Williams, who was carted off Tuesday with a calf injury. He’s also getting a second opinion, but the initial hope is he could be back Week 1, per source.”

Wren went down with his injury Monday, a big issue for a Bengals team that already went out and signed Mike Daniels to massage the losses of Josh Tupou and Ryan Glasgow.

Williams suffered his injury Tuesday, another problematic issue for an overhauled Bengals defense. While the veteran has lost the starting role to new arrival Vonn Bell, he still figured to play a massive role on a rotational basis.

Depending on the final verdicts, the Bengals could again reach into free agency for help.

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Bengals’ safety Shawn Williams leaves training camp on cart

Cincinnati Bengals safety Shawn Williams suffered an injury Tuesday.

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Cincinnati Bengals safety Shawn Williams needed a cart to leave the field Tuesday during the team’s first padded practice of training camp.

Williams left the field on a cart, per The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr.: “Looks like Shawn Williams tweaked something early in practice. Was getting looked at and now going back in to the locker room on a cart.”

Williams remains in the plans for the Bengals at safety even after the team added Vonn Bell in free agency, though plans could change given the developments Tuesday.

The latest hit for the defense comes on the heels of defensive tackle Renell Wren needing a cart to leave the field Monday, though the team has yet to provide an update on his status.

Star wideout A.J. Green also suffered a hamstring injury and didn’t work Tuesday.

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Joe Mixon and Shawn Williams just had quite the interesting Twitter exchange

Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon sure had a comment that sounded like contract talk.

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Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon is the big subject of extension speculation for the team as training camp gets underway.

With the deadline for the team to do a long-term deal with star wideout A.J. Green in the rearview, it’s all eyes on Mixon.

Naturally, pretty much anything Mixon says on social media or otherwise can be suggestively read into until something concrete does happen.

Which is what makes a new Twitter exchange between safety Shawn Williams and the star running back himself so interesting. Mixon alluded to big life decisions and Williams didn’t waste any time dropping a one-liner that sure sounds like contract talk:

What do we know?

Back in May, a report said the Bengals and Mixon’s camp had “productive” talks about an extension. We know the team wants to get one done, though it’s a “for the right price” sort of thing, especially given the devalued nature of running back and the potential for a reduced salary cap in 2021.

For now, Bengals fans will just have to make do with little breadcrumbs like this.

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Jessie Bates the rising star? Shawn Williams thinks so

Cincinnati Bengals safety Shawn Williams is a big believer in Jessie Bates.

When it comes to on-the-rise Cincinnati Bengals players, it’s a little easy to overlook safety Jessie Bates.

Bates sits sandwiched between the end of a dead era and a complete roster overhaul and last year — like most on the Cincinnati defense — he struggled to adapt.

But veteran safety Shawn Williams isn’t one of those guys who has overlooked Bates, as he told  Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com:

“…It’s like Jessie. He should be considered one of the elite, but it’s not that way when you’re not on a winning team and not playing in prime-time games.

He’s got a lot of upside. He’s just starting to scratch the surface because he’s so young. He’s doing everything on raw talent. Once he actually learns as he grows he should be really good.”

Williams, heart and soul of the secondary for a long time now, would know best.

And the proof has been all over the film. Bates was one of those guys who struggled in a new scheme a year ago but seemed to improve as the season progressed. Prior to that, even as a rookie, he showed signs of being that ballhawking safety the Bengals drafted him to be.

These comments come on the heels of Bates hiring a new agent as he gets ready to push for a second contract. He’s clearly on the right trajectory and the combination of his improving and the unit around him doing the same could mean he has a massive 2020.

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Shawn Williams unsure of where he fits for revamped Bengals — but he’s ready to compete

Cincinnati Bengals safety Shawn Williams is ready to come in and fight for his spot.

Cincinnati Bengals safety Shawn Williams heads into a great unknown next season.

Williams watched from afar during a pandemic as his team let go of veterans like Dre Kirkpatrick and brought in new starters at every level of the defense.

That potentially includes safety Vonn Bell, a late luxury addition. And while nobody will say Bell is instantly a starter over Williams, we’re talking about a 25-year-old playmaker in the middle of his prime.

Williams has taken his usual optimistic slant though and is ready see how it all shakes out, per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com:

“I don’t know how that plays out. I don’t even think they know right now because they haven’t really seen Vonn do anything and that’s no knock on Vonn. I just think they want to see everybody together on the field first. I’m confident they’ll figure how to use him and use me and everybody is going to be happy.”

Though he does go on to admit it’d be tough for him to stick on the sidelines given his well-earned roster status over the years:

“But it has to work hand-in-hand if this thing is going to work. It would kind of be hard, having your leader, having your alpha male for your defense, not only on your defense but on your team, not doing anything productive.”

Williams has been an absolute warrior for the Bengals for a long time and toughed it out through an injury last year despite the 2-14 record. His comments are standard fare as far as he’s concerned — which aligns with the idea he’s another veteran all-in on Zac Taylor’s current approach.

No matter where Williams ends up, he sounds like a guy once again ready to lead by example.

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Every prime time NFL game featuring former Georgia football players

After the release of the 2020 NFL schedule, here’s a look at every prime-time game that former Georgia football players will appear in.

On Thursday, the NFL released its 2020 schedule, providing more optimism that a football season will take place come September.

With Georgia having added seven new players into the league via the NFL Draft, there’s going to be a number of UGA fans hoping for a chance to watch some former Dawgs play on prime-time television.

The Patriots, Cowboys, Chiefs, Packers, 49ers, Rams and Buccaneers will be featured most in prime time during the 2020 NFL season with five games apiece.

Georgia players on those teams:

Cowboys, Packers and Bucs do not have any Bulldogs.

Patriots: C David Andrews, RB Sony Michel, OL Isaiah Wynn

Chiefs: WR Mecole Hardman

49ers: TE Charlie Woerner

Rams: OLB Leonard Floyd, ILB Natrez Patrick, DB Tyrique McGhee.

Here is a list of every nationally televised NFL game featuring Georgia Bulldogs.

Some of these game are subject to a time change and some of the players signed as undrafted free agents. As of right now, these are the teams they are on.

For a full list of Georgia players and their NFL teams, click here.

Thursday Night Football:

  • Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: Fox, NFL Network
  • Live stream: Amazon Prime

Thursday Sept. 17: Browns at Bengals

Georgia players on Browns: RB Nick Chubb, RB Brian Herrien

Georgia players on Bengals: DT Geno Atkins, WR AJ Green, DT Tyler Clark, DB Shawn Williams

Thursday Sept. 24: Dolphins at Jaguars

Georgia players on Dolphins: OG Solomon Kindley

Georgia players on Jags: WR Chris Conley, WR Terry Godwin, DT Abry Jones, S J.R. Reed

Thursday Oct. 1: Broncos at Jets

Georgia players on Broncos: N/A

Georgia players on Jets: WR Lawrence Cager, OLB Jordan Jenkins

Thursday Oct. 8: Buccaneers at Bears

Georgia players on Bucs: N/A

Georgia players on Bears: WR Reggie Davis, DT John Jenkins, WR Riley Ridley, LB Roquan Smith, WR Javon Wims

Thursday Oct. 15: Chiefs at Bills

Georgia players on Chiefs: WR Mecole Hardman

Georgia players on Bills: QB Jake Fromm, WR Isaiah McKenzie

Thursday Oct. 22: Giants at Eagles

Georgia players on Giants: OT Andrew Thomas, LB Tae Crowder, OLB Lorenzo Carter

Georgia players on Eagles: RB Elijah Holyfield

Thursday Oct. 29: Falcons at Panthers

Georgia players on Falcons: RB Todd Gurley

Georgia players on Panthers: N/A

Thursday Nov. 5: Packers at 49ers

Georgia players on Packers: N/A

Georgia players on 49ers: TE Charlie Woerner

Thursday Nov. 12: Colts at Titans

Georgia players on Colts: K Rodrigo Blankenship, OLB Justin Houston

Georgia players on Titans: C Ben Jones, OT Isaiah Wilson, OLB D’Andre Walker

Thursday Nov. 19: Cardinals at Seahawks

Georgia players on Cardinals: OL Lamont Gaillard

Georgia players on Seahawks: DB Jayson Stanley

THANKSGIVING

Thursday Nov. 26: Texans at Lions (12:30 p.m. CBS)

Georgia players on Texans: OLB Davin Bellamy, WR Tyler Simmons

Georgia players on Lions: RB D’Andre Swift, QB Matt Stafford, DT John Atkins, TE Isaac Nauta

Thursday Nov. 26: Redskins at Cowboys (4:30 p.m. Fox)

Georgia players on Redskins: OLB Thomas Davis, S Maurice Smith

Georgia players on Cowboys: N/A

Thursday Nov. 26: Ravens at Steelers (8:20 p.m. NBC)

Georgia players on Ravens: LS Nick Moore, TE Eli Wolf

Georgia players on Steelers: N/A

Thursday Dec. 3: Cowboys at Ravens 

Georgia players on Cowboys: N/A

Georgia players on Ravens: LS Nick Moore, TE Eli Wolf

Thursday Dec. 10: Patriots at Rams

Georgia players on Patriots: C David Andrews, RB Sony Michel, OL Isaiah Wynn

Georgia players on Rams: OLB Leonard Floyd, ILB Natrez Patrick, DB Tyrique McGhee

Thursday Dec. 17: Chargers at Ravens 

Georgia players on Chargers: N/A

Georgia players on Ravens: LS Nick Moore, TE Eli Wolf

Friday Dec. 25: Vikings at Saints

No Georgia players in this game

Next: Sunday Night Football

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Bengals chose Shawn Williams over Dre Kirkpatrick in numbers crunch

The Bengals made a tough choice when deciding who to cut.

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There could only be one.

One, meaning a pricey veteran carryover from the last coaching staff at the back end of the Cincinnati Bengals defense.

After the Bengals signed Vonn Bell, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander, to name the notables, somebody had to go. And the two candidates were Dre Kirkpatrick and Shawn Williams.

Williams won out and Kirkpatrick is gone –though he’s thanked the team for how the front office handled the ordeal this week, contrary to some theories.

And as The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. pointed out at the time, much of it seemed to come down to versatility:

When it came down to Kirkpatrick and Williams it wasn’t actually about money. The former had a costlier contract, yes, but if he wasn’t restricted to only playing boundary corner, he might’ve been the one to stick.

But it’s Williams who can move all over the place and last year quietly spent a big chunk of (ineffective) time at linebacker. He’s also been a captain, warriored through injury in a lost season and generally is a leader. Even if his on-field production gets replaced, there’s something to be said for having him as depth and keeping his presence in the locker room.

Which isn’t to say Williams is 100 percent safe. Things change. Moves happen. But in April before the draft? The Bengals could have easily cut both to save as much cash as possible after big moves but didn’t — Williams remains for versatility and leadership reasons.

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Is Shawn Williams on hot seat after Bengals signed Vonn Bell?

Is Shawn Williams a Bengals cut candidate?

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Dre Kirkpatrick is one of the names most suggested when thinking about Cincinnati Bengals players potentially on the hot seat this offseason.

But feel free to add Shawn Williams to the list.

Williams was already potentially on the list as it was before the Bengals signed Vonn Bell. He’s going on 29 years old and has struggled over the past few seasons, including a 54.5 grade at Pro Football Focus last year. Feel free to add in a $4.485 million cap hit in 2020.

But the addition of Bell really furthers the idea. Bell is an in-the-box run defender who should play well with Jessie Bates.

The conventional idea seems to be Williams just comes on the field as a linebacker in the box. But there’s a problem — he did that plenty last season, spending north of 500 snaps in the box. He wasn’t great, clearly, and while teams should be planning for the playoffs, it’s not hard to see why his 215-pound frame was struggling against running teams in the AFC North.

Williams is one of the hearts and souls of the Cincinnati defense. But he’s also an old guard on a unit changing very quickly that just potentially added four new starters for a coaching staff that wants to reduce the playing time of someone like Geno Atkins — all this before the draft.

It’s not easy to lose a warrior like Williams who sets the tone and has played through plenty of injuries, including last year. But if a rookie or two come in via the draft at linebacker and safety, the Bengals might take the $4 million in savings and keep the makeover going.

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