Tyrell Williams is ready to have a bigger impact after injuries derailed his debut season with the Las Vegas Raiders. Now that he’s healthy, he should have no problems becoming a solid contributor in 2020.
Williams’s first year with the Raiders took a dent when the wide receiver suffered plantar fasciitis in the 2019. The veteran started the year with a streak of five consecutive games in which he scored a touchdown. Nevertheless, he wasn’t able to keep that up and ended up scoring just one more to finish the year with six total touchdowns.
Raiders: What Is Tyrell Williams Up To Now?
In a two-part interview with Vic Tafur of the Athletic, Williams talked about his health and and past experiences that have shaped him. In part two, he talks about his recovery, and the offseason changes he and the Raiders have gone through.
Regarding his health, the veteran wide receiver said that it was a taxing process and at one point, he felt discouraged. However, he is finally healthy after months of rehabilitation. “Shoot, it’s been a long offseason with my feet. I did two months after the season of just rehab and resting them. It was still taking a long time and I started getting pretty discouraged, but … um, about two months ago, I finally got over the hump and my feet have been feeling good. So I still feel it a little bit, but compared to what I had … it’s nothing compared to what I was going through during the season.”
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On the other hand, Williams is trying the make the best out of a different offseason. The veteran wide receiver sees this as an opportunity to spend more time with family and friends.
The Advantages of Online Learning
When looking at the meetings, Williams sees the positives but is also aware he needs live reps. “I like them a lot. If we could cut back on what the offseason normally is, and be around family and friends and still be able to do Zoom calls and check in and learn the offense. The time on the field with the quarterback is important, so you still need to have a couple OTAs.”
Later, he added “But I know a lot of guys have really enjoyed spending a lot more time with their families during this downtime of the quarantine. For me, having no worries about when I had to leave and just focusing on family was great. And I still learned a lot through the Zoom calls. Stay fresh with the mental and then get on the field and work through some stuff.”
In the same manner, Williams confessed the online dynamic can get boring. “I mean, it definitely gets boring, I am not going to lie to you. And that may just be me, as a guy who understands offense and you’re going through stuff that you may feel you already have down. So that can get boring. But the coaches do a good job of keeping us entertained. We have quizzes and it’s competitive.”
With his injuries behind him, the veteran is getting ready to take on the 2020 season at full steam. An unusual offseason should not stop him from turning into the playmaker the Raiders originally envisioned him as.
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Top Photo: Michael Hickey/Getty Images
