Isaiah Williams made the kind of plays that can change how a receiver is viewed. During Saturday's scrimmage-like Jets practice at 1 Jets Drive, Williams caught a 66-yard pass from Cade Klubnik in the two-minute drill and later added a touchdown catch from Geno Smith.
The performance stood out because Williams is often seen from the outside as a special teams contributor first. Aaron Glenn pushed back on that idea afterward, saying there is room for him in the offense. Glenn also pointed to the standard Williams brings, noting that players like him demand respect and demand reps.
Big plays in a busy practice
The 66-yard connection came in a two-minute drill setting, one of the clearest signs that Williams can create explosive plays when the offense needs them most. Later, Smith found him for a touchdown from the plus-36, giving Williams two notable highlights in the same practice session.
That was part of a practice Glenn said he wanted to be challenging. He said he was glad the team had that kind of session, with the heat and the refs on hand, and he said the offense had the right mindset. Glenn also said the players executed exactly the way he wanted them to execute, while adding that the pressure was really, really good and the group was dialed in.
What Glenn said about Williams
Glenn's comments were notable because they went beyond a simple praise of one practice. He said Williams operates the way he operates and that it is no surprise to coaches or players. He also said that, from the outside, many people view Williams as a special teams player, but there is room for him in the offense.
Chris Banjo echoed that point, saying it is really good to see what Williams can put on tape and how he can bring other players along with him through the standard he sets. Banjo added that Williams is a competitive player who does not really like to take no for an answer, and that it shows up on tape.
There was also a defensive side to the day. The defense was frequently in Geno Smith's backfield throughout practice, and Glenn cited penalties and fatigue as issues. Josh Myers was asked about that pressure and said, “certainly not,” underscoring how competitive the session was from start to finish.
Williams' day did not decide anything on its own, but it did give the Jets a clear example of the kind of impact he can have beyond the role many people assign him. For a player trying to expand his profile, that kind of practice matters.
