As shocking as Mike Williams' retirement from the NFL was, it presented an opportunity for someone in the LA Chargers' wide receiver room to step up. Early on, fifth-round pick KeAndre Lambert-Smith is the one rising to the occasion.
Lambert-Smith has become a darling of Chargers training camp and it does not stop there. The former Auburn Tiger put together one of the most impressive showings of the night in the Bolts' preseason opener against the Detroit Lions on Thursday.
With his great showing and subsequent training camp highlights, Lambert-Smith isn't just proving that he can step up and play a role in this Chargers offense. He is showing that he might be a legitimate replacement for Mike Williams as an X receiver.
Chargers may have found their new Mike Williams in KeAndre Lambert-Smith
To be clear, we are not comparing Lambert-Smith, who still hasn't played an NFL game that actually counts, to prime Mike Williams. Williams was a top-10 pick and while he wasn't super productive in his rookie season, still looked the part of a top-10 pick.
It would be disingenuous to say that a fifth-round pick has the same ceiling as rookie Williams after a few weeks of training camp and one preseason game. That's not to say that ceiling is impossible for Lambert-Smith, but outright expecting it would be a bit silly.
Instead, Lambert-Smith can step up and be whatever version of Williams the Chargers were going to get in 2025. It's no secret the Chargers weren't getting prime Williams and were getting a diminished version. Fans were just excited to add legitimate X receiver depth with a jump ball specialist who Justin Herbert trusts.
That trust won't happen overnight with Lambert-Smith but the ball skills are clearly there. Even if his route tree is a bit limited, he proved on Thursday that he can catch a go ball, as well as win with a quick release at the line of scrimmage.
Having Lambert-Smith as a legitimate difference-maker at X receiver opens so many doors for the Chargers. As it stands right now, Tre' Harris is the only true X receiver. Without Lambert-Smith, Quentin Johnston would've played some X receiver. If Lambert-Smith can continue this run, that won't be a possibility.
There's even a world in which Lambert-Smith consistently plays over Johnston as the season goes along. Lambert-Smith could carve out a serious snap share at X receiver with Harris playing the Z and Ladd McConkey in the slot. That leaves very little room for Johnston.
Either way, Williams was projected to provide X receiver depth alongside the Chargers' second-round pick. With Lambert-Smith boldly stepping up this summer, it appears the Chargers can get a similar impact out of someone who was overlooked just months ago.