Isaiah Williams Is Thriving with the Jets - and Making the Bengals Regret Letting Him Go
Sometimes, the NFL has a way of reminding teams - and fans - that talent doesn’t always stick where it should. That’s exactly what’s happening with Isaiah Williams.
Once a promising wideout with a dynamic college résumé, Williams is now making waves as one of the most electric return men in football - just not in Cincinnati, where he briefly called home. Instead, it’s the New York Jets who are benefiting from a decision that’s starting to look like a clear misstep by the Bengals’ front office.
Cincinnati Had Multiple Chances - and Missed Them All
Let’s rewind. Coming out of Illinois, Isaiah Williams had the kind of production that should’ve turned heads in NFL war rooms.
In his final season with the Fighting Illini, he racked up 82 catches for 1,055 yards and five touchdowns. He wasn’t just productive - he was explosive, both as a receiver and in the return game.
And yet, somehow, he went undrafted in 2024.
The Bengals had a chance to grab him in the draft. They passed.
Then, when he hit the undrafted free agent market and signed with the Lions, they missed again. But Cincinnati got a third shot when Detroit waived him - and this time, they actually brought him in.
The Bengals claimed Williams off waivers on November 8, 2024, and he stuck around through the offseason and into training camp.
And here’s the thing: Williams flashed. He made plays in camp, including a memorable red zone touchdown grab with Dax Hill in tight coverage. Joe Burrow put the ball where only his receiver could get it, and Williams did the rest - the kind of moment that usually earns you a longer look.
But when the preseason rolled around, Williams didn’t quite pop. He finished with just three catches on seven targets for 33 yards. It wasn’t enough to cement a roster spot, and the Bengals opted to keep him on the practice squad instead of the 53-man roster.
A Roster Decision That’s Aging Poorly
One reason Williams didn’t make the Bengals’ final roster? The team chose to hang onto second-year receiver Jermaine Burton.
That decision backfired in a big way. Burton, who never saw the field during the regular season, was eventually released after missing a team flight - a move that signaled the end of his time in Cincinnati before it ever really began.
While the Bengals were dealing with that fallout, the Jets came calling. They signed Isaiah Williams off the Bengals’ practice squad in September, and he hasn’t looked back since.
Williams Is Becoming a Star in the Return Game
Williams hasn’t lit up the stat sheet as a receiver - at least not yet. Through 12 games with New York, he’s posted 13 catches for 114 yards. But where he’s been a true difference-maker is on special teams.
As a kick returner, he’s averaging 29.7 yards per return, including a long of 83. But it’s in the punt return game where he’s really separated himself.
Williams has returned 28 punts for 396 yards and two touchdowns, averaging a blistering 14.1 yards per return. Those two scores?
Tied for the most in the league. Those 396 return yards?
Best in the NFL.
Even some of his returns that have been wiped out by penalties have made the highlight reels. He’s brought life to a Jets team that hasn’t had much to cheer about offensively - and he’s done it with consistency, explosiveness, and swagger.
Williams has quickly become a fan favorite in New York - no small feat in a city where the spotlight is always on and patience is in short supply. More importantly, he’s earned the trust of his teammates, who are already talking about him as a Pro Bowl or even All-Pro candidate.
“I think he's done everything he possibly can to put his name out there and show he can be a Pro Bowl guy or an All-Pro in this league.”
That kind of praise doesn’t come lightly. And it’s not just hype - the numbers back it up.
Meanwhile, the Bengals Are Searching for Answers
Back in Cincinnati, the return game is suddenly a question mark. Charlie Jones, who had been handling punt return duties, went down with an ankle injury against Baltimore. Jones has shown flashes - including a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown against the Bears - but he’s not the kind of threat Williams has become.
With Jones sidelined and Burton out of the picture, the Bengals are scrambling. Their latest move?
Claiming Ke’Shawn Williams off waivers from Pittsburgh. It’s a low-risk play, but expecting him to replicate what Isaiah Williams is doing in New York might be wishful thinking.
The Bengals had Williams in the building. They saw the talent up close. And they let him walk.
A Juicy Matchup Awaits
Next up for Isaiah Williams and the Jets? A date with the New Orleans Saints - and it’s a matchup that could be tailor-made for another special teams highlight.
Earlier this season, the Saints gave up a 95-yard punt return touchdown to Seattle’s Tory Horton - the longest in Seahawks history. That’s not exactly the kind of tape you want circulating when you’re about to face one of the hottest returners in the league.
The Jets and Saints are both sitting on disappointing records, but Williams gives this game a little extra juice. If he breaks another one, it won’t just be a spark for New York - it’ll be another gut punch for a Bengals team that had him and let him go.
Whether or not he finds the end zone again, one thing is clear: Isaiah Williams is making the most of his opportunity. And the Bengals? They’re left wondering what could’ve been.