While the Las Vegas Raiders’ 2020 season was a disappointing one, finishing 8-8 and missing the postseason, it is important to note that they were missing a number of key players throughout the year due to injury.
One of those players was wide receiver Tyrell Williams, who was the team’s best receiver in 2019 but missed all of 2020 after being placed on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury.
Watching a full season from the sidelines can never be easy, and Williams recently detailed how difficult it was for him this year on an appearance on Silver And Black Today, via Levi Edwards of Raiders.com:
“It was very frustrating; it’s the first season I’ve ever missed in my life,” said Tyrell Williams. “It’s definitely a weird feeling being out this year – last couple of years have been frustrating — but it’s been a good time to just get back into the shape I want to be in and get my body back to where I want it to be, so I’ve been using the time to make sure that next year I’m ready to go.”
Williams revealed that he actually wanted to play the last couple of games of the season, and he continues to rehab to be ready for next season:
“I wish I could go out and play these last two games,” said Williams. “My shoulder’s been feeling great, pretty close to a full 100 percent, still probably got a couple more months to go, but I’m feeling really good.”
Williams has two years remaining on the four-year, $44 million contract he signed with the Raiders in free agency. He can be cut without the Raiders paying him any money this offseason though, and it appears the team is planning to do so, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network:
The #Raiders plan to release WR Tyrell Williams at the start of the league year next month, per source. Williams missed the entire 2020 season because of a shoulder injury that required surgery, but should be fully healthy in 2-3 weeks. He’s still only 28.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 11, 2021
The Raiders’ receiving corps now includes young guys Hunter Renfrow, Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards, so they will likely look to add someone else to the mix this offseason.
Williams is still just 28 years of age so if he can get healthy, he certainly could have some good years left in him, even if it’s not with the Raiders.
