Head coach Arthur Smith said Wednesday that Williams has suffered an ACL injury and is expected to miss the 2023 campaign, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Williams is expected to be sent in for knee surgery in the coming days, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. The 5-foot-9, 195-pound Williams averaged 5.0 yards and scored a touchdown on 22 carries and added 13 receptions for 61 yards, but his main contributions for Atlanta in 2022 came in the return game.
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Falcons' Avery Williams: Modest results as RB
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Williams finished the 2022 campaign with 22 rushing attempts for 109 yards and a touchdown across 17 appearances. He also caught 13 of 14 targets for 61 yards and complied 605 return yards.
Williams was drafted by the Falcons in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft as a defensive back and return man, but the Boise State product was converted to running back ahead of the 2022 campaign. With Damien Williams out of the picture after Week 1 due to a rib injury, Williams quickly worked his way up the running back depth chart and saw a decent role during the campaign given his circumstances. However, Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson dominated the backfield work, which left limited opportunities for Williams and Caleb Huntley. Williams has two years remaining on his rookie contract and figures to have a solid shot at a roster spot next year due to his return abilities, but he'll also have a chance to carve out a larger offensive role following a full offseason at his new position.
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Falcons' Avery Williams: Practices in full
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Williams (foot) logged a full practice Friday, Ashton Edmunds of the Falcons' official site reports.
Williams was forced out of the team's Week 17 game with the Cardinals and could not return. However, after a couple of days off the field, the second-year-pro was able to return and participate in full. He should be able to suit up Sunday against the Buccaneers.
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Falcons' Avery Williams: Will not return
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Williams (foot) will not return Sunday against the Cardinals, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.
Williams had one carry for minus two yards and a reception for two yards before exiting, as well a kick return for 23 yards. As the team's No. 3 back, behind Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson, Williams' absence won't have much of an impact. However, it could force Patterson to take over all return duties for the remainder of the contest.
Williams logged three carries for 16 yards and reeled in both of his targets for 14 yards during Saturday's 17-9 loss to the Ravens.
With Caleb Huntley (Achilles) out, Williams stepped up as the Falcons' No. 3 running back and totaled five touches for just the second time this season. He made the most of his increased offensive opportunity by recording a season-high 30 yards from scrimmage while also operating as the team's primary punt and kick returner. As long as Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson are healthy, Williams likely remains irrelevant in standard fantasy leagues, but he's certainly a player to monitor now that he's in line for increased work during Atlanta's final two regular-season games.
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Falcons' Avery Williams: Limited role in loss
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Williams rushed four times for 25 yards in Thursday's 25-15 loss to the Panthers.
Williams played on just nine of the Falcons' 63 offensive snaps as the team's No. 4 running back. The second-year rusher has fallen down the depth chart with the return of Cordarrelle Patterson in the past two games. Williams instead saw most of his work on special teams, playing 90% of special teams snaps in the contest. With Patterson, Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley all healthy, the 24-year-old will be hard-pressed to produce for fantasy purposes going forward. Williams and the Falcons will host the Bears in Week 11.
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Falcons' Avery Williams: Secures only target in loss
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Williams had zero rushing attempts but reeled in his only target for two yards during Sunday's 20-17 loss versus the Chargers.
With Cordarrelle Patterson back from IR, Williams saw his role reduced even more, garnering just three offensive snaps. When he's in the game, the converted defensive back is a pass-catching threat, but as long as Patterson, Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley are healthy, Williams' fantasy potential is severely limited.
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Falcons' Avery Williams: Garners small offensive role
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Williams rushed once for four yards and failed to haul in his only target during Sunday's 35-17 loss to the Bengals. He also returned two punts for 64 yards.
Williams saw his smallest offensive role of the season as Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley once again dominated the running back snaps in Cordarrelle Patterson's (knee) absence. However, Williams did make an impact on special teams by recording a 56-yard punt return at the end of the first half that setup a last-second, 43-yard field goal from Younghoe Koo.
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Falcons' Avery Williams: Scores first career TD
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Williams rushed three times for 11 yards and one touchdown while catching both of his targets for 10 yards during Sunday's 21-15 loss to Tampa Bay.
Williams, who played defensive back during his rookie campaign, was converted to running back this offseason. He garnered a small reserve role through the first four weeks, totaling six touches for 51 yards, but with Cordarrelle Patterson (knee) sidelined, Williams saw an expanded role in Week 5 and secured his first career NFL touchdown. Despite the score, he is still firmly behind rookie fifth-round pick Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley on the depth chart. However, Williams does appear to have the most versatility out of the trio, so he could continue to steal snaps in a third-down role. All of Atlanta's running backs face another stiff test against the 49ers in Week 6.
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Falcons' Avery Williams: One touch in Week 4
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Williams rushed once for 21 yards during Sunday's 23-20 win over Cleveland. He also returned one punt for 18 yards.
The Falcons went run-heavy in the second half as Tyler Allgeier, Caleb Huntley and Williams all got in on the act, while Cordarrelle Patterson took a backseat after being featured in the first half. Williams played just seven offensive snaps and continues to garner a small depth role, totaling eight touches for 51 yards across four games.
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Falcons' Avery Williams: Small role in season opener
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Williams rushed twice for seven yards and caught his only target for eight yards during Sunday's 27-26 loss to the Saints.
Williams, a 2021 fifth-round pick, was converted from defensive back to running back this offseason and stood out during training camp. Rookie Tyler Allgeier was a healthy scratch for Week 1, leaving Damien Williams and Avery as the backups behind Cordarrelle Patterson. Damien left the game briefly due to a rib injury, which allowed Avery to finish with 23 offensive snaps -- second most among running backs behind Patterson. Avery's offensive production wasn't head-turning, but it's an encouraging sign to see him involved early on. He also returned three punts for 42 yards, including a 18-yard return in the third quarter, and his role on special teams should keep him on the gameday roster even if Allgeier works his way into the mix.
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Falcons' Avery Williams: Makes roster as RB
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Williams made the Falcons' initial 53-man roster Tuesday, Jeff Schultz of The Athletic reports.
Williams, a fifth-round pick out of Boise State last year, was drafted as a defensive back, but as a rookie, he made his biggest impact as a return man, totaling 490 kick-return yards and 152 punt-return yards. The Falcons transitioned Williams to a running back this offseason with the hope of capitalizing on some of his return skills, similar to how Atlanta revitalized converted wideout Cordarrelle Patterson's career last year. Williams is projected to be the top return man again this year, but barring injuries, he likely won't garner a major offensive role.
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Falcons' Avery Williams: Turning heads at training camp
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Williams continues to make plays as a pass-catching running back during his first training camp as an offensive player, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
The 2021 fifth-round pick was drafted out of Boise State as a defensive back, but as a rookie, he made the biggest impact as a return man, totaling 490 kick-return yards and 152 punt-return yards. The Falcons are hoping to capitalize on Williams' return skills by transitioning him to offense during his second NFL season, similar to how Atlanta revitalized Cordarrelle Patterson's career last year. So far, the move appears to have worked out, as Williams continues to make plays in training camp. However, it's important to note that the 24-year-old's early success in camp may be a product of Atlanta's poor linebacker corps, which is trying to recover from the loss of Foye Oluokun in free agency.
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Falcons' Avery Williams: Switching to offense in 2022
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The Falcons announced Thursday that Williams will move to running back for the 2022 season.
The 2021 fifth-round pick appeared in 15 games for the Falcons as a rookie and registered 22 tackles (eight solo) and one pass defense. The defensive back also operated as a return man, totaling 490 kick-return yards and 153 punt-return yards. Atlanta will look to capitalize on his return abilities by seeing what the Boise State product can do as a running back in 2022. The Falcons had success utilizing former return-specialist Cordarrelle Patterson in a multitude of ways last season and could attempt to do something similar with Williams, who saw action as a running back in high school and at the start of his college career.
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Falcons' Avery Williams: Coach optimistic about return
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Williams (hamstring) could return in Week 8 against the Panthers, per coach Arthur Smith, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Williams hasn't suited up since Week 4, but he could be ready to return to his role in Atlanta's secondary and as a kick returner on special teams against the NFC South rival Panthers. The rookie fifth-round pick's participation, or lack thereof, in practice throughout the week should provide clues as to whether or not Smith's optimism regarding Williams' health is warranted.
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Falcons' Avery Williams: Downgraded to out
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Williams (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Dolphins, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.
Despite the bye week, Williams will miss his second straight contest with the hamstring injury. Atlanta's secondary is healthy outside of Williams, so his absence shouldn't impact its defensive rotations, but Fabian Moreau will likely once again take over punt-returning duties from the rookie.
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Falcons' Avery Williams: Doubtful for Week 7
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Williams (hamstring) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Williams was also listed as doubtful for Atlanta's Week 5 game against the Jets and went on to sit that one out. Despite having an extra week to recover during Atlanta's Week 6 bye, the rookie defensive back and kick returner will most likely miss a second consecutive game barring an unexpected improvement in his hamstring's health.
