Pats Pulpit
On a depth chart full of veteran wide receivers, Kyle Williams has learned a valuable lesson throughout his rookie season.
“You just always got to be ready,” Williams said. “It’s a saying, ‘Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.’ You don’t want to wait until it is the last day or the moment. Even if things are not going your way, stay on your routine because at some point it’s going to be when the things you were doing before are going to help you out in the long run.”
On Monday night against the New York Giants, Williams was ready when needed.
After a 13-yard completion to Kayshon Boutte to set up a 3rd-and-9, the veteran receiver hobbled to the sideline after being shaken up on the play. In a moment’s notice, in came Williams.
Seconds later, the rookie found himself behind Giants cornerback Paulson Adebo — due to one of his patented clean release off the line of scrimmage — and hauling in a 33-yard touchdown pass over his shoulder in the end zone.
“[Drake] threw it up and it was just a great ball placement. I don’t think it get any better than that. I just had to come down with it,” Williams said.
13 games into his rookie season, Williams has hauled in just five passes on 13 targets as he’s played 26 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. His big play ability has shown in those moments, however, as he’s totaled 143 yards (28.6 yards per reception) and a pair of touchdowns.
There may have even been yards left on the table as Williams has often been open but not gotten the football, largely due to limited practice reps with quarterback Drake Maye leading to some miscommunications.
But with Williams being where Maye needed him to be Monday night, the rookie’s speed and big play ability could continue to play more-and-more of a factor for the Patriots offense coming back from the bye.
“He is a young guy, but he can roll, he’s fast, he’s savvy. He’s been open a lot,” Stefon Diggs said of Williams. “They haven’t connected throughout the year but it’s around that time that those banked reps that you’ve had, and that consistency that you put on tape of getting open, start to turn the corner for you. So, super happy for him.”
