INDIANAPOLIS, IN – SEPTEMBER 29: Tyrell Williams #16 of the Oakland Raiders(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Tyrell Williams will try to play through a major shoulder injury.
There is some excitement brewing around the Las Vegas Raiders due to their young weapons on offense, but wide receiver Tyrell Williams stretching the field as the vertical component of this attack might be the X-factor that carries this team close to the playoffs. All of the optimism surrounding Williams’ 2020 season now hangs by a thread, as he suffered a serious shoulder injury in practice.
Williams suffered a torn shoulder labrum in practice today. Against all odds, Williams will try to rehab the injury and play through it, as the explosive wideout doesn’t want to miss one snap of game action.
Tyrell Williams was the No. 1 wide receiver for the Raiders in 2019
While Darren Waller emerged as the No. 1 pass-catching option for the Raiders, Williams, who signed a four-year $44 million contract after starting his career with the Los Angeles Chargers, recorded 651 yards receiving and six touchdowns in 14 games last season. While he is a bit of an unusual fit in Jon Gruden’s West Coast offense, there will always be a market for 6-4 receivers with his speed.
The Raiders’ receiving corps was already going to be a question mark with Williams in the lineup and fully healthy, so they chose to draft Alabama speed demon Henry Ruggs in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft and reliable South Carolina stud Bryan Edwards in the third round. Nelson Agholor is also around if Gruden wants a veteran option. If Williams’ injury does sideline him, they’ll be better prepared than in past seasons.
While there are some criticisms about Williams’ game that can be raised, no one will ever question his toughness and desire to win. If the improved Raiders are to fulfill their potential on the offensive end, Williams will need to prove that he can tough out this shoulder injury and still contribute at the same clip he did last year.
