Green Bay’s second-year wideout Savion Williams is officially back on the practice field, kicking off his three-week window to rejoin the Packers’ active roster. Head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Wednesday morning that Williams, who went on injured reserve before the season started on cutdown day in August, is now beginning his 21-day practice period.
The Clock is Ticking For Williams’ Return
So, what does this mean for Williams and the Packers? NFL rules say they’ve got 21 days from Wednesday to activate him to the 53-man roster. If they don’t, he reverts to injured reserve and is done for the rest of the season. LaFleur even hinted that they might activate Williams as soon as this week, with the Packers gearing up for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears. It’s a quick turnaround for a guy who’s been sidelined.
Williams was one of two players placed on IR with a return designation, so this move was always a possibility. But his potential role on the field? That’s where things get interesting, and maybe a little murky. Last season, he grabbed 10 passes for 78 yards and a score, plus had 11 rushes for 37 yards. The team could definitely try to find ways to get him involved on offense for a different look, given his size-speed combo and blocking ability.
Don’t Expect a Huge Shake-Up in the Receiver Room
Here’s the deal though: even with Williams back, don’t expect the Packers’ wide receiver depth chart to get blown up. Christian Watson and Matthew Golden are firmly entrenched as the boundary receivers. And with Jayden Reed lost for the season back in Week 2, Skyy Moore has really settled in as the primary slot guy. The team seems pretty content with those top three options right now.
Consider this: in Week 4, backups Bo Melton and J. Michael Sturdivant combined for a measly 12 snaps out of 120 total wide receiver snaps. That’s not a lot of opportunity if you’re not one of the main guys. While Williams could potentially slide in as Watson’s backup, possibly shifting Melton more into a slot-focused role, the overall snap distribution isn’t likely to change much.
Kick Returner Stays With Moore
And if you’re thinking Williams might reclaim the kick returner job he had as a rookie, pump the brakes on that one too. Skyy Moore has been doing an admirable job. He’s averaged a solid 16 yards on 8 punt returns for 128 yards. On kickoff returns, Moore’s averaging 27.5 yards, which actually ranks him 14th out of 50 qualifying players in the entire NFL! Williams’ rookie average was 25.6 yards per kickoff return, almost two yards less than Moore’s current numbers. So yeah, Moore’s got a firm handle on that gig moving forward.
So the clock is ticking for the Packers to make a roster decision on Savion Williams. Keep an eye on Sunday’s game against the Bears to see if LaFleur throws him onto the active roster immediately, or if they take their time with the 21-day window. Either way, it looks like it’s going to be a battle for snaps in that Green Bay receiver room.
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.
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