NY Jets LB Quincy Williams vows to be a Pro Bowler in 2022
By Justin Fried
The NY Jets have found plenty of success with waiver-wire pickups during Joe Douglas' tenure with the organization, and they're hoping that Quincy Williams is the latest former waiver claim to stick with the team.
Williams was claimed off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars last September, and he went on to start 13 games and play an important role in the Jets' defense this past season.
Now, Williams is focused on taking his game to the next level. In fact, he's willing to go one step further.
When speaking to the media on Thursday, Williams vowed that he would make the Pro Bowl this season citing his confidence and desire to "speak it into existence."
"I’d like to speak it into existence so I will be a Pro Bowler this year. I’m a lot more comfortable. When I first got here it was a learning on-the-fly type of thing. I was mainly learning what’s my job. This offseason I’m learning what’s my job and how does it fit in the scheme. That’s the biggest thing. Now, I’m learning all parts of the defense."
- Quincy Williams
The NY Jets hope to see a big year from Quincy Williams in 2022
Williams joined the Jets last September and it didn't take long for him to find his way into the starting lineup. An injury to Jarrad Davis opened the door for the younger linebackers on the roster to step up, and Williams took that opportunity and ran with it.
He quickly surpassed the likes of Hamsah Nasirildeen and Jamien Sherwood on the depth chart and found himself starting alongside C.J. Mosley for most of the year.
Davis returned midseason, but after just a couple of weeks, he was relegated to a backup role once it became clear that he was a downgrade.
This isn't to say that Williams was perfect, however. Far from it. The 25-year-old was a runaway train on defense, oftentimes overrunning plays or getting caught out of position.
The Jets love Williams' athleticism, motor, and physical presence, but he'll need to become a much more consistent player in 2022 if he's going to sniff the Pro Bowl. As Williams insisted, a full offseason to work out with the team should do wonders for his development.
Say what you want about Quincy Williams, but he isn't lacking in confidence. Here's to hoping that he truly does speak it into existence and that he establishes himself as a long-term cornerstone of the Jets' defense this year.