It didnโt take long for the receiver theย Pittsburgh Steelersย acquired at the NFL trade deadline to make an impact. Newly acquired wideoutย Mike Williamsย only had 1 catch on 1 target during his Steelers debut in Week 10. But his lone catch went for a 32-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
That score proved to be the difference. With the touchdown and extra point just before the 2-minute warning, the Steelers edged theย Washington Commandersย 28-27.
The touchdown came just five days afterย the Steelers acquired Williamsย from theย New York Jets. That didnโt give the 30-year-old receiver a lot of practice time with his new quarterback before his debut.
In fact, after the game, Williams revealed that he didnโt practice the route where he scored his touchdown during his first week in Pittsburgh.
โI didnโt run it one time,โ Williams told reporters, via The Athleticโs Mike DeFabo.
Before getting traded on November 5,ย Williams didnโt haveย a single touchdown in nine games with theย New York Jetsย this season. He only had 1 score with his former team, theย Los Angeles Chargers, last year.
But if Week 10 is any indication, Williams is set to have a significant role with the Steelers during the second half of the 2024 campaign.
Steelers Suffer WR Injury Just Prior to Williams TD
On one hand, itโs a little hard to believe that the Steelers would ask Williams to run a route he didnโt practice with the team yet. But he may have done so out of necessity.
Pittsburghโs second-leading receiver,ย Calvin Austin, hauled in a 13-yard completion with 4:40 remaining in the fourth quarter. After the play, the officials stopped the game to escort Austin to the sideline, possibly to be checked for a concussion.
The Steelers converted third-and-3 on the next play. But another three plays later, they faced third-and-9. Facing heavy pressure on the play, quarterbackย Russell Wilsonย backed up to avoid the rush and threw a heave down the sideline.
Williams brought in the pass in the end zone.
The play was onlyย Williamsโ ninth snap of the game. Despite his lack of practicing that route in Pittsburgh, itโs possible Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith doesnโt make that play call if Austin is still in the game.
Russell Wilson Addresses Williamsโ Game-Winning TD
Wilson, who had 3 touchdown passes in the victory, made a tremendous play to avoid the rush on the game-winning throw to Mike Williams. But afterwards, he gave all the credit to the Steelers new receiver.
โIt was a big-time catch by Mike. I just tried to give him a chance and let him do his thing,โย Wilson told reporters. โThe guy thatโs had three plus-1,000-yard receiving seasons over his career. A guy whoโs made plays, a guy whoโs faced adversity.
โYou love it when guys face adversity and they come through it on the other end.โ
The touchdown pass is a perfect microcosm of Wilsonโs first three starts with the Steelers. Things havenโt always looked pretty for Wilson, but heโs often given the Pittsburgh playmakers chances to make big plays.
As a result, the Steelers young weapons are beginning to shine. Their newest veteran pass-catcher did that with the game on the line in Week 10.
โYou gotta love clutch moments,โย Wilson told reporters. โWhen youโve got guys who can make plays and do things for you. First of all, Big Mike over there. We just traded for him, tremendous football player.
โWe got GP (George Pickens) on the right, Van [Jefferson] on the right. Pat [Freiermuth] showed up in big ways. Guys just stepped up in key moments. Just another great moment.โ