New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams is in line to play in the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, head coach Robert Saleh said Thursday.

Williams has participated in team drills during practice, a pivotal step in his recovery after he sustained a torn ACL last season while playing for the Los Angeles Chargers. He signed a one-year contract with the Jets on March 19 and was activated off the physically unable to perform list on Aug. 7.

While there has been progress, Saleh said it wouldn’t be fair to expect Williams to operate at 100 percent during the Sept. 9 Monday night opener.

“We’re going to be very smart with how we use him, but he’s going to be plenty available to make his mark felt,” Saleh said.

The Chargers made Williams a salary cap casualty after seven seasons with the club. Williams was due to make $17 million in the final season of his three-year deal with Los Angeles before he was released in March.

Williams, 29, sustained the knee injury in Week 3 of the 2023 season, which ended with 19 receptions for 249 yards and one touchdown in three starts. In 88 career games (62 starts), he has racked up 309 catches for 4,806 yards (15.6 yards per catch) and 31 touchdowns, plus one rushing touchdown.

The Chargers selected Williams with the seventh overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Clemson.

–Field Level Media