Kyle Williams was supposed to take a huge leap this year for the New England Patriots. This second-year wide receiver had seriously flashed in preseason, even earning some big praise from his head coach. Plus, fellow wideout Kayshon Boutte got traded to the Texans, clearing the path. The stage was set for Williams to absolutely explode in Year 2. Four games in? Nah, it just ain’t happening yet. Even with the Patriots struggling big time with availability at wide receiver, Williams has only pulled in two passes for a combined 44 yards. That ties him for ninth and sixth on the team in those categories, respectively.
Numbers Don’t Lie, But Vrabel’s Still All In
Despite the rough start, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is still feeling good about Williams’ development. “He continues to improve,” Vrabel told reporters on Wednesday. It’s tough to hear that or even believe it when the guy isn’t getting the ball, right? Vrabel did point out that Williams has helped out on kickoff returns and even mentioned a play against the Buffalo Bills where he “would’ve liked for us to have thrown a better ball to him down in the end zone.” That fourth-quarter go ball down the right sideline fell incomplete, and it’s a perfect example of the current situation. Williams’ lack of production isn’t entirely a lack of chances either. He’s been targeted seven times in 64 offensive snaps so far, which isn’t a monumental number, but it definitely puts him on track to blow past his 21-target rookie season from 2025.
Kickoff Woes and What Comes Next
The stats just aren’t looking good for Williams yet, and that goes for his role as the primary kickoff returner too. He’s had 11 runbacks already, the same number he had all of last season, but he’s only averaging 24.8 yards per return. With A.J. Brown still chilling on injured reserve and Mack Hollins’ injury outlook totally unclear this season, you’d think Williams might see some bigger changes. But his usage so far tells a different story: don’t expect any major shifts. Still, Vrabel remains a big believer. “I would say that he’s committed to working and improving and understanding more than one spot,” he said about Williams, adding, “We’re excited about where he’s going to go.” For now, it’s a waiting game. Can Williams finally turn Vrabel’s words into real production? That’s what everyone’s watching for.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
Leave a Reply