The LA Chargers dodged a bullet with Mike Williams’ injury
By Jason Reed
The LA Chargers could have been without Mike Williams for quite some time.
The LA Chargers are already dealing with their first real injury of the 2020 season and it comes at the hands of someone who has struggled to stay healthy in the past, Mike Williams. The standout product of Clemson hurt his shoulder coming down onto the turf in practice on Sunday.
The worst is instantly expected when you hear injury news during training camp but the LA Chargers ended up dodging a bullet. ESPN reported on Monday that Williams suffered a sprained AC joint.
That is far better than it could have been at the timetable for return is just a few weeks. Sunday marked three weeks until the LA Chargers are back in action against the Cincinnati Bengals and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Williams should be ready for Week 1.
It is not a guarantee that Williams will be able to suit up in Week 1 but it is definitely more likely than not that he will be ready. At the absolute worst, he will miss a game or two to start the season.
What if the LA Chargers are without Mike Williams?
I do not want to discount what Mike Williams brings to the table but the LA Chargers would be just fine without him for a week or two. In fact, if Williams is questionable heading into the weekend, I would rather the team play it safe and rest him an extra week to make sure he is 100 percent.
The Chargers are adopting a new style of offense that is going to be more focused on running the football with several moving parts. Williams will still be a deep threat, but the number of times the Chargers call on him deep down-field will decrease simply because of the change of scheme from Philip Rivers to Tyrod Taylor.
The Cincinnati Bengals, albeit with the first overall pick, Joe Burrow, are not a huge challenge, either. The Bengals do not have a great secondary so not having Williams won’t make Keenan Allen’s life any harder and the Chargers will win or lose this game based on how rude of a welcoming they can give Burrow in his first NFL start.
As long as Williams is not out long-term, which barring an unusual setback he won’t be, then the Chargers will be just fine.
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The team dodged a bullet with this one. Williams being hurt long-term could have exposed some receiver depth flaws if Joe Reed and K.J. Hill don’t step up to the plate.