Isaiah Williams wasted no time creating legitimate buzz at Jets training camp

New York Jets receiver Isaiah Williams talked a big game throughout the offseason, wanting to be known as more than just a special teams standout. 

Training with Olympic sprinters has clearly paid off, as Williams beat the Jets’ defense on a 66-yard touchdown throw from Cade Klubnik during Saturday’s scrimmage. 

Those paying attention to training camp won’t be surprised, as Williams has earned rave reviews while competing for additional snaps at receiver. 

"Players like that demand respect, they demand reps," head coach Aaron Glenn told reporters. 

It’s time for New York Jets fans to get excited about Isaiah Williams

Williams quite literally burst onto the scene, returning two punts for touchdowns and earning Jets Special Teams MVP honors. 

Undrafted in 2024, Williams initially drew attention for two return gaffes in a September loss to the Dolphins. The Jets briefly released him, then brought him back less than a month later. 

Williams also factored into the offense following Garrett Wilson’s season-ending right knee injury, recording 26 catches for 193 yards. 

“There’s room for him in our offense,” Glenn said Saturday. 

Those expecting a 1,000-yard season might want to temper their expectations, though. Wilson and Adonai Mitchell are guaranteed the starting two receiver roles, and Frank Reich’s offense heavily utilizes tight ends. 

And while Williams theoretically stands to benefit from rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq’s recent setback from hernia surgery, that doesn’t necessarily mean more targets. 

Glenn and Reich each spoke highly of tight end Jeremy Ruckert throughout the offseason, and Mason Taylor impressed as a rookie. There was only so much that Taylor could do given the Jets’ overall offensive dysfunction. 

Then, you remember that the Jets want to throw more to the running backs, and a path to more playing time for Williams isn’t so simple. 

Because he went undrafted in 2024, Williams is only under team control through the end of this season. The Jets essentially picked up his three-year rookie contract after the Bengals cut him last summer. 

An impressive summer, both in training camp and the three-game exhibition slate, would go a long way toward proving that Williams can be an NFL-caliber receiver. He’s already off to a brilliant start in that regard. 

Unfortunately for any teams interested in Williams, a disaster is the only way that he won’t be on the Week 1 roster. The Jets value him too much, and they’d almost certainly be unable to stash him on the practice squad. 

If Jets fans needed another reason to feel confident about Darren Mougey, look no further than the buzz surrounding a converted quarterback becoming an intriguing all-purpose weapon. 

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