NY Jets WR Mike Williams could be playing against his future team tonight

Tonight could be an audition for Mike Williams.

Justin Fried

Mike Williams / Michael Owens/GettyImages

Mike Williams might very well be playing his final game as a member of the NY Jets organization tonight. The eighth-year veteran has been the subject of extensive trade rumors over the last few weeks and seems likely to be dealt in the near future.

One of the teams that is expected to be very active in Williams' trade market happens to be the Jets' Week 7 opponents, the Pittsburgh Steelers. There's a very real possibility that Williams is essentially auditioning for his future team in tonight's game.

The Steelers, New Orleans Saints, and Williams' former team, the Los Angeles Chargers, have all reportedly inquired about his availability since the Jets acquired Davante Adams in a trade last week.

Pittsburgh has reportedly "scoured the Earth" to find a wide receiver this year, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The Steelers were close to reaching a deal to trade for San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk but have come up empty to this point.

Mike Williams might be traded to Steelers after tonight's NY Jets game

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Sunday that the Jets and Steelers have already had conversations about a potential Williams trade. The two teams mutually decided to table those trade talks until next week — after their game tonight.

Williams did not practice on Wednesday and Thursday this past week due to "personal reasons," leading to rumors that he had played his final game as a member of the Jets. However, the situation took an unexpected twist when Williams was spotted at practice on Friday.

Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich confirmed to reporters that Williams would be active for Sunday night's game despite his recent absences and persistent trade rumors. His future beyond tonight's game remains uncertain.

The Adams trade sent ripple effects throughout the Jets' wide receiver room, and with Adams, Garrett Wilson, and Allen Lazard all locked into roles, Williams finds himself as the odd man out.

His struggles to get on the same page with Aaron Rodgers haven't helped matters, but the Jets also haven't utilized him to his fullest potential. Williams is also still recovering from a torn ACL that cost him most of the 2023 season.

The Jets seem almost certain to trade Williams at some point. It won't be before tonight's game, but don't be surprised if it happens as early as next week. The Steelers loom as one of his most likely landing spots.

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Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.