Jamaal Williams hasn’t taken an NFL handoff since January 2025, but the New England Patriots gave the 2022 NFL rushing touchdowns leader a huge reason to keep training. Williams was one of five free agents who worked out for New England on Tuesday in Foxboro, with 98.5 The Sports Hub reporting the news, citing NFL insider Ari Meirov. We’re still waiting for any word on a signing as of Tuesday night, but the timing for this tryout is absolutely no coincidence.
The Patriots’ Desperate Search for Backfield Help
Coach Mike Vrabel is dealing with a serious headache in the backfield after lead back Rhamondre Stevenson limped off with about a minute left in Sunday’s wild 29-26 win at Buffalo. Vrabel said Wednesday that Stevenson wouldn’t practice, though he did offer a sliver of hope, saying there’s a chance Stevenson could still play on Sunday, per Patriots Wire. Still, you have to be worried. Behind Stevenson, the Patriots, currently sitting at 2-2, have only TreVeyon Henderson and Corey Kiner on their active roster, plus Lan Larison on the practice squad. They also conveniently opened up two roster spots after cutting edge rusher Jose Ramirez on Tuesday. With the Las Vegas Raiders coming to town this Sunday, New England needs to fill those spots, and fast. Could Williams be the answer they’re searching for?
Williams’ Journey Back to the Gridiron
If Williams gets another shot, it would be four years after the best season of his career, a season that had everyone talking. Back in 2022, during his second year in Detroit, he absolutely exploded. He ran for 1,066 yards and an NFL-high 17 touchdowns, shattering Barry Sanders’ Lions record of 16 TDs. He didn’t just break it, he did it at Lambeau Field against his old team, scoring twice in the regular season finale and helping the Lions kick the Packers right out of playoff contention. That night, he gave one of the most memorable postgame interviews of the year, tearing up as he dedicated the performance to his late great-grandfather before famously turning to the doubters and telling them to “stop playing with us.” What a moment!
That 2022 season was definitely an outlier, though, in a career built on being a dependable, tough runner. A fourth-round pick out of BYU in 2017, Williams actually led the Packers in rushing as a rookie and spent four years as Aaron Jones’ running mate in Green Bay. His huge 2022 breakout landed him a three-year, $12 million deal with the New Orleans Saints. But things didn’t quite click there, as he managed just 470 rushing yards and two touchdowns over two seasons before the Saints released him in March 2025.
He still holds a pretty impressive streak, scoring at least one rushing touchdown in all eight of his NFL seasons, and he’s racked up 4,122 career rushing yards and 32 touchdowns. After the Saints, he tried to find a new home, working out for the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins in August 2025 but went unsigned, sitting out the entire season. He’s been knocking on doors ever since, even reaching out to Lions coach Dan Campbell last month about a reunion, only to be told Detroit was set for now but they’d keep him in mind. Now, at 31 years old, Williams is once again waiting, hoping that New England call comes back.
The Patriots are set to host the Las Vegas Raiders this Sunday. With Stevenson’s status up in the air and those two roster spots open, the stakes are sky-high for their backfield. Will Williams get the call to strap on the pads again and contribute? It would be an incredible comeback story for a player who’s fought his way onto the field for years. Foxboro fans are definitely going to be watching their phones, and the field, closely this week.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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