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Brooke Pryor, ESPN Staff Writer
PITTSBURGH — After a months-long search for a wide receiver, the Pittsburgh Steelers finally landed a new addition at the trade deadline, acquiring Mike Williams from the New York Jets in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick, a source told Adam Schefter on Tuesday.
In Williams, the Steelers added a complementary piece to top wideout George Pickens, who’s been a focal point of opposing defenses since the team traded Diontae Johnson to the Panthers for cornerback Donte Jackson in the offseason.
Though the Steelers’ pass game has improved since Russell Wilson took the starting quarterback reins against Williams’ former team, the team still felt they needed another receiver to round out a group that also includes Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III, Scotty Miller and 2024 third-round pick Roman Wilson, who was recently placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
“That when called upon, they’re capable of delivering,” coach Mike Tomlin said of what he’s learned about his wide receiver depth Tuesday. “And I just think with each passing week, there’ll be more opportunities to display that, particularly as people work schematically to minimize George, it creates one-on-one opportunity for others.
“… I just feel like we have a group that’s hardworking and capable and can’t wait to show the football world those capabilities and every time we step into a stadium, they get an opportunity to do so. And you’ve seen some examples of it already.”
At 6-foot-4, Williams is now the tallest wide receiver on the Steelers’ roster, and his size and jump ball ability makes him an important, versatile piece for a group that has a host of smaller, speedy players.
The Jets evidently felt Williams was expendable after acquiring Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 15. However, the Williams trade leaves them thin for a few weeks at wide receiver.
It means Xavier Gipson (four catches for 23 yards) moves into the WR3 role until Allen Lazard returns from injured reserve (eligible in Week 14).
In Week 6, Jets quarterback Rodgers called out Williams for running the wrong route on a target that resulted in a game-clinching interception in a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills. It’s unusual for a quarterback to criticize a receiver in that manner. The next morning, the Jets traded for Adams, reuniting him with Rodgers, his former Green Bay Packers quarterback.
Not coincidentally, Williams didn’t practice the next two days even though he was healthy. He was a no-show one day; the next day, he was present at practice but worked off to the side in the rehab area. Williams said he didn’t practice because of “personal stuff.” He let the Jets know he was open to a trade, according to a source.
Williams said he wasn’t bothered that Rodgers criticized him publicly, though he indicated the two met one-on-one to discuss it. Williams’ playing time increased the last two games because of Lazard’s injury, but he was all but ignored in the passing game — only two targets and one catch for six yards.
“Mike’s a good guy, he’ll be good in that locker room … he’s had a nice career and sometimes change of scenery is great for certain guys,” Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday. “… We kind of knew with Davante coming in that there’d be less targets for everybody, because G’s [Garrett Wilson] leading the league in targets and Tae’s a dynamic player, he’s going to get his targets. If this gives Mike more opportunities that’s awesome and we wish Mike well.”
The Jets signed Williams to a one-year, $10 million contract, expecting him to emerge as their WR2 once he recovered from ACL surgery. He made it back on time — for the season opener — but he never found a consistent role.
In nine games with the Jets, Williams had only 12 catches for 166 yards and no touchdowns.
Willliams, 30, was released by the Los Angeles Chargers last March after seven seasons with them. A first-round pick in 2017, he recorded two 1,000-yard seasons and made 309 receptions for 4,806 yards and 31 touchdowns. He tore an ACL in Week 3 last season.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini contributed to this report.
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