Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Josh McDaniels offers vote of confidence in Patriots rookie Kyle Williams
"I’m exited when he gets his next opportunity. I really am.”
The Patriots’ once-stagnant offense has received a sizable lift so far this season.
Fueled by Drake Maye’s emergence as one of the top young quarterbacks in the game, New England is looking more and more like a threat in the AFC — with a receiver corps featuring the likes of Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte regularly torching opponents.
But, for all of the growth put on display on offense so far this season, rookie wideout Kyle Williams hasn’t made much of an impact through the first six weeks of the 2025 campaign.
Williams — drafted out of Washington State with the 69th pick (third round) of the 2025 NFL Draft — was expected to be a legitimate deep-threat weapon for Maye this season.
Advertisement:
But the promising young wideout hasn’t been able to find much traction on the field to this point, catching two passes off four targets for just 20 total yards. He was targeted twice during Sunday’s win over the Saints but wasn’t able to reel in either throw from Maye.
Despite Williams’ slow start to his pro career, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels isn’t fretting over the rookie’s play so far.
“What we’ve done is look at the things that we’re doing when the ball doesn’t come to you. Are you doing the right things, and a lot of times, he is,” McDaniels said Thursday. “Like I keep saying – I feel like a broken record – the ball hasn’t quite found him on certain things yet. But if it does, then we’ll see what that looks like.
Advertisement:
“I think the fact he continues to practice well, continues to have the ability to play in multiple positions gives him the ability to be in the game. And we’re not putting him in a position where he can’t get anything done. He’s in there running plays.”
Maye has been able to spread the ball around among his pass-catchers to start the season. While Diggs has emerged as his go-to option through the air (32 catches for 387 yards), New England currently boasts eight different players on the roster who have recorded at least five catches on the year.
Much like how DeMario Douglas broke through in Week 7 against New Orleans (three catches, 71 yards, one touchdown) after a slow start, McDaniels stressed that it’s only a matter of time before Williams gets his opportunity to shine on the gridiron.
“Last week, he subbed in for Diggs. He subbed in for Boutte … I think the opportunities are there,” McDaniels said of Williams “He’s present and available every day in practice. And he’s doing a really good job understanding his assignments.
“Like I’ve said about Pop (Douglas) and Kayshon, and Diggs, different guys at different times, I think (the ball) will find him. We just have to continue to try to press forward on the process of doing the right thing. And I’m exited when he gets his next opportunity. I really am.”
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com