NY Jets news: Mike Williams injury update, Jets position change, Carl Lawson return

The NY Jets hosted their first training camp practice of the summer on Thursday, and only a handful of players were forced to the sideline due to injury. One of the more notable absences was wide receiver Mike Williams.

Williams is still working his way back from the torn ACL he suffered in September of last year and begins the summer on the active/PUP list. The Jets have insisted that they fully expect Williams to be ready for Week 1, and an update provided on Wednesday supports that notion.

Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers told reporters following Wednesday's practice that Williams was "ahead of schedule" in his rehab. Of course, Rodgers isn't the Jets' medical staff, so it's fair not to put too much stock into his comments.

That said, Williams was spotted working with trainers on the side of the field on Wednesday, a step up after he spent the spring rehabbing inside the Jets' facility. Whether Rodgers' update is accurate or not, the Jets expect Williams to be 100 percent for the start of the regular season.

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Jets player changes positions

The Jets have one of the deepest cornerback rooms in the NFL, and you can add one more developmental piece to that depth chart. Jets head coach Robert Saleh told reporters on Wednesday that Jarrick Bernard-Converse has officially been moved to cornerback.

The Jets originally drafted Bernard-Converse in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft with the goal of playing him at safety in the NFL. The former LSU star started his college career as a cornerback before switching to more of a full-time safety.

Bernard-Converse appeared in eight games as a rookie, missing the first half of the season due to injury. He was used almost exclusively on special teams, playing just four defensive snaps all year.

The Jets signed veteran cornerback Isaiah Oliver in the offseason and converted him to safety this spring. It seems Bernard-Converse will essentially be taking his place in the cornerback room.

Carl Lawson attempting a comeback

The Carolina Panthers are searching for veteran pass-rush depth, and one player they're bringing in for a workout this week is former Jets defensive end Carl Lawson.

Lawson signed a hefty three-year, $45 million contract with the Jets prior to the 2021 season with the hope that he could give the team the star edge rusher they had been searching for. The early returns in the summer were promising, but a torn Achilles suffered in training camp derailed his Jets career.

Lawson missed the entire 2021 season and, while he stayed healthy in 2022, clearly wasn't the same as his pre-injury self. A back injury further added to Lawson's mounting health issues, and he was relegated to a non-factor in 2023.

Still, at just 29 years old, the Panthers are hoping Lawson has something left in the tank. Unfortunately, injuries have taken their toll on a player who was once one of the most productive and efficient pass rushers in the NFL.