On a New England Patriots roster stacked with seasoned wideouts, rookie Kyle Williams is proving that patience and preparation can pay off in a big way - especially when your number gets called in crunch time.
“You just always got to be ready,” Williams said recently. “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.”
That mindset paid dividends Monday night against the New York Giants. When veteran receiver Kayshon Boutte came up limping after a 13-yard catch that set up a 3rd-and-9, Williams was thrust into the spotlight - and didn’t blink.
On the very next play, Williams got a clean release off the line, slipped behind Giants corner Paulson Adebo, and tracked a beautifully placed deep ball from quarterback Drake Maye. The result? A 33-yard touchdown that showcased not just Williams’ speed, but his poise and ball skills in a high-pressure moment.
“[Drake] threw it up and it was just a great ball placement,” Williams said. “I don’t think it gets any better than that. I just had to come down with it.”
That touchdown was only Williams’ fifth catch of the season, but it was a reminder of the big-play potential he brings to the field. Through 13 games, he’s played just 26 percent of the offensive snaps and been targeted 13 times - but he’s turned those limited opportunities into 143 yards and two scores, averaging a jaw-dropping 28.6 yards per reception.
It’s not just about the stats, either. There have been several instances this season where Williams has gotten open downfield but didn’t get the ball - often the result of limited practice time with Maye, which has led to some miscommunication. But Monday night showed what can happen when the timing is right and the trust is there.
And that might just be the beginning.
“He is a young guy, but he can roll, he’s fast, he’s savvy,” said veteran receiver Stefon Diggs. “He’s been open a lot.
They haven’t connected throughout the year, but it’s around that time that those banked reps that you’ve had, and that consistency that you put on tape of getting open, start to turn the corner for you. So, super happy for him.”
Diggs isn’t wrong. Williams has been quietly stacking good reps, even if the box score hasn’t always reflected it. And now, coming off the bye, the rookie’s chemistry with Maye may be turning a corner at just the right time.
For a Patriots offense still finding its rhythm, Williams’ emergence as a downfield threat could be a game-changer. He’s not just a fill-in anymore - he’s a weapon waiting to break loose.