The New England Patriots have continued their red-hot streak and secured their eighth straight win by taking down the New York Jets 27-14 on Thursday Night Football. They were able to finish with 336 total yards of offense, which came without rookie receiver Kyle Williams having much of an impact.
The first-year wideout finished with zero catches and receiving yards despite having three targets, which is a disappointment after last week's first-career touchdown. Although it was disappointing to see Williams lay a primetime goose egg, Thursday's performance shouldn't bother New England fans too much, if at all.
Patriots Fans Must Be Patient After Kyle Williams' TNF Letdown
Williams played in 67% of the offensive snaps (45 plays) and seemed to be out of sync with quarterback Drake Maye a couple of times. While this isn't what fans wanted to see, ESPN's Mike Reiss pointed out that fellow WR Kayshon Boutte didn't take off until Year 3, showing that it takes receivers some time to get acclimated to the NFL level.
Boutte's rookie year was forgettable, at best, finishing with two catches for 19 yards and zero touchdowns in five games. He slowly ramped up to a 27-349-1 stat line in his first 12 games of the 2024 season before closing out the year with a 16-240-2 performance in the final three games. Fast forward to this season when Boutte is among the Pats' top wideout threats, and it's easy to see why patience with Williams must be exercised.
The NFL is a completely different speed and pace than college, so it's not surprising to see Williams have a slow start. The Patriots also have several receivers who have gained trust from the coaching staff. Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and DeMario Douglas are all higher on the pecking order than the rookie. And when Boutte comes back, he'll also be added to the list. And that's without mentioning tight end Hunter Henry.
At the same time, the logjam of talent could work in Williams' favor, as it means the Patriots can afford to be patient, rather than throwing him into a situation he isn't ready for.
TreVeyon Henderson's Delayed Breakout Is a Good Sign for Kyle Williams
The Pats haven't just thrust rookies into action and have been easing them in. They did the same with TreVeyon Henderson through the first eight weeks of the season. Once Rhamondre Stevenson went down with a toe injury, Henderson has been given more opportunities, and he's taken full advantage.
Over the last two weeks, Henderson has compiled 209 rushing yards, 34 receiving yards, and five total touchdowns. This should give the fans even more hope that Williams will have a role for this team down the line.
Whether or not that will happen in 2025 remains to be seen, but fans need to remain patient with Williams. He has the talent to be a productive receiver, but he still needs some time to put everything together.
And with the abundance of pass-catchers in New England, Williams will be given the time he needs. Hopefully, that puts him on track to be a reliable deep threat for years to come.