Isaiah Williams, the former Detroit Lions wide receiver, was quickly claimed by the Cincinnati Bengals off waivers just before the weekend. Williams, who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent from Illinois, joined the Lions but struggled to find playing time due to the team’s deep receiving corps. With standout players like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Kalif Raymond ahead of him, Williams was relegated to the back of the depth chart, particularly in the slot position.
Despite limited opportunities, Williams did make brief contributions over the last two weeks. He caught two passes for 6 yards in the Lions’ decisive win over the Tennessee Titans and also added a 36-yard kickoff return in Detroit’s victory over the Green Bay Packers.
With Jameson Williams returning from a two-game suspension, the Lions’ receiving unit is now fully healthy and at full strength. Amon-Ra St. Brown has been on an exceptional run, Kalif Raymond continues to make plays, and Tim Patrick has proven to be an ideal fit as a physical WR3, adding a vertical threat to the offense.
On the other hand, the Bengals, who suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football, will benefit from the extra days Williams has to adjust to his new team. This gives the rookie receiver time to acclimate to his new environment before he potentially contributes to the Bengals’ offense.
