Savion Williams, the Green Bay Packers’ second-year wide receiver, is officially back on the practice field this Wednesday, kicking off a critical 21-day window for the team. It’s a move that’s been on the radar since cutdown day back in August, when Williams was placed on injured reserve with a return designation just to open up a roster spot.
The Clock is Running on Savion Williams’ Return
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed the return during his morning press conference, and that means Williams’ three-week practice window has already started. This isn’t just a casual return, either. Under the NFL’s roster rules, the Packers have to activate Williams and get him onto their 53-man roster within these next 21 days. If they don’t, he reverts right back to injured reserve, and that’s it for his season. LaFleur even hinted that they might activate Williams as soon as this week, just in time for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.
Where Does Williams Fit in a Crowded Receiver Room?
Now, here’s the kicker: figuring out where Williams actually fits in. The Packers’ receiver room isn’t exactly lacking bodies right now. You’ve got Christian Watson and Matthew Golden firmly entrenched as those boundary receivers. Then there’s Skyy Moore, who’s been holding it down as the primary slot receiver ever since Jayden Reed went down for the season in Week 2. The depth chart shows J. Michael Sturdivant backing up Golden, and Bo Melton as the backup for both Watson and Moore. Williams brings that size-speed combination and some potential blocking ability, so maybe he slots in as Watson’s backup, potentially pushing Melton more into a pure slot role. But let’s be real: Green Bay seems pretty content with their top three guys. In Week 4, out of 120 total snaps for wide receivers, Melton and Sturdivant combined for a measly 12 snaps. That’s a tough mountain to climb for a guy just returning from IR.
Special Teams Shake-Up? Not So Fast.
And if you’re thinking Williams is coming back to reclaim the number one kick returner job, hold your horses. Skyy Moore has been doing an admirable job on punt returns, with 8 attempts for 128 yards and a sweet 16-yard average. He’s also been reasonably solid on kickoff returns, averaging 27.5 yards, which ranks him 14th out of 50 qualifying players in the entire NFL. Williams averaged 25.6 yards per kickoff return as a rookie last year, nearly two yards less than Moore. So, yeah, Moore probably has a firm handle on that gig moving forward. The Packers might try to get Williams on the field for a “different look” on offense sometimes. Last season, he caught 10 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown, plus he ran the ball 11 times for 37 yards. But honestly, don’t expect his return to blow up the depth chart or drastically change who’s getting the snaps among the wide receivers.
So, the Packers have a decision to make, and the clock is seriously ticking. Do they activate Williams in the next three weeks and figure out a way to work him in, or does he revert to IR for the rest of the season? Keep a close eye on Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears to see if Coach LaFleur makes a move with Williams.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply