Kyle Williams gave the Patriots exactly the kind of jolt they’d been waiting for in their 45-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
After a season that had already sparked frustration, Williams finally flashed the talent that made him such an intriguing piece in New England. The Baltimore native caught all three of his targets for 91 yards, a career high, and scored a touchdown. Most of the damage came the way Patriots fans would expect by now: get him on a go route and let the speed take over.
That’s the part of Williams’ game that stands out right now. He may be limited to one major weapon at the moment, but it’s a dangerous one.
He is explosive, speedy, athletic, and already owns elite release skills. In the right spot, he can stretch the field in a hurry.
That kind of profile fits well with Drake Maye, who is one of the best deep-ball throwers in the NFL. Williams, the Washington State alum, can be a real asset for Maye if he keeps building his game and turns himself into more than what he is today.
There’s also a realistic path for New England to get him involved in different ways if A.J. Brown returns next week.
That could mean fewer chances for Williams to work downfield, unless the Patriots get creative. End arounds and jet sweeps would make sense, since his speed and explosiveness could show up without asking him to win consistently as a route runner.
For now, though, the important thing is that Williams finally gave the Patriots something they can use. He still has plenty of room to grow, but the raw ability is obvious. The former third-round pick may have needed this performance as a confidence boost, and New England now has a little more reason to believe he can become a real part of the offense even after the three-time All-Pro receiver comes back.
In Other News...
Patriots Offensive Line Is Giving Drake Maye A Reason For Concern
Former Patriots lineman Matt Light has had a familiar view of New Englands offensive front, and he did not dismiss the criticism that has followed the group early in the season. The line has been forced to work through injuries, with left tackle Will Campbell and right guard Mike Onwenu both affected, and the biggest issues have shown up in the run game. Even so, Light noted the unit still has enough talent to keep Drake Maye upright long enough for the offense to function.
Josh McDaniels has helped mask some of those problems with a scheme that keeps the attack moving, but the concern is how much strain the line can continue to absorb. The Patriots need stability up front not just for Mayes comfort in the pocket, but for an offense that has been able to stay productive without looking fully settled. With the middle of the line banged up and the blocking not yet consistent, the next stretch will say a lot about how real the improvement is. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots May Have One Deadline Fix For A Growing Pass Rush Problem
The Patriots pass rush has become a more urgent conversation as the trade deadline approaches, especially with the group still waiting on a clearer answer from Harold Landry. New England has some younger options worth watching, including Gabe Jacas and Elijah Ponder, but the idea of leaning on development alone is harder to sell when the need is immediate and the season is already taking shape.
That is why the teams search could extend beyond its own depth chart and into the veteran market, where a proven edge presence would make sense for a defense trying to keep pressure off the back end. The timing is delicate, though, because the longer Landry remains unavailable, the more this looks like a problem the Patriots may need to solve before the deadline rather than hope will fix itself later. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Get Encouraging Will Campbell News At A Crucial Time
Will Campbells knee injury could have put the Patriots in a far tougher spot, but the early signs have been more encouraging than the on-field reaction suggested. The rookie left tackle left Sundays game looking like a player who might be headed for a lengthy absence, only for the team to learn it was a knee sprain rather than something more serious, and he was back on the practice field in a limited role by Wednesday.
For New England, the timing matters as much as the diagnosis. The Patriots do have other options if Campbell cant go in the next stretch, but his availability still hangs over a position that can quickly affect everything else on offense. Campbell has sounded upbeat about where things stand, yet his status for upcoming games remains unsettled, which leaves the team waiting on one of its more important young pieces. [Read more 🡒]