Williams (pectoral) is inactive Sunday against the Browns.
Williams was able to close out the week with back-to-back full practices, so his absence is a bit of a surprise, despite the questionable tag. He'll now work to be ready for Week 5 against the Steelers, while Geno Stone will likely get all the work at free safety against Cleveland on Sunday.
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Ravens' Marcus Williams: Officially questionable
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Williams (pectoral) has drawn a questionable designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Browns.
After being limited at Wednesday's practice, Williams was a full participant for consecutive days to close out the week. Still, the Ravens are being cautious with his status by labeling him as questionable. Geno Stone would presumably be in line to fill in at free safety if he ultimately cannot go.
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Ravens' Marcus Williams: Set to return
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Williams (pectoral) logged a full practice Thursday.
Williams appears set to play Week 4 against the Browns after suffering what was expected to be a significant injury in the team's Week 1 win over the Texans. The veteran managed to avoid surgery and IR, and his likely return should be a boost to an ailing Ravens secondary.
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Ravens' Marcus Williams: Returns to practice
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Williams (pectoral) practiced Wednesday, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.
Williams avoided IR and surgery despite suffering what was initially believed to be a torn pectoral muscle in the team's Week 1 win over the Texans. It's still not known whether he was able to log a full or limited one, or how likely it is he'll suit up Sunday against the Browns. However, it is clearly a step in a positive direction for the veteran safety.
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Ravens' Marcus Williams: Expected to miss extended time
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Williams will be out for "a while" and is considering surgery after sustaining a pectoral injury during Sunday's 25-9 win versus Houston, Sherree Burruss of NFL Network reports.
If there's any good news for Williams, it's that the injury may not end his season entirely. With that being said, the loss of their starting free safety for the foreseeable future represents a big blow to an already-banged-up Baltimore secondary. Brandon Stephens, a 2021 third-round pick, will probably step in to start alongside Kyle Hamilton until Williams is healthy enough to return.
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Ravens' Marcus Williams: Won't return Sunday
Rotowire
Williams (shoulder) was ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game versus the Texans.
Williams sustained a shoulder injury in the first half that will sideline him for the remainder of the Ravens' season opener. The exact nature and severity of this issue are still unknown, leaving the safety's status up in the air for the Week 2 road matchup versus Cincinnati on Sunday, Sept. 17.
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Ravens' Marcus Williams: Exits versus Houston
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Williams (shoulder) is questionable to return to Sunday's game versus the Texans.
Williams collected four tackles (three solo) before sustaining a shoulder injury at some point during the first half. The seventh-year safety was a major contributor when healthy for Baltimore last season, totaling 61 tackles, eight passes defended and four interceptions across just 10 games. With Williams sidelined, Brandon Stephens and Geno Stone will likely step up into bigger roles alongside starting strong safety Kyle Hamilton.
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Ravens' Marcus Williams: Returns to active roster
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The Ravens activated Williams (wrist) from injured reserve Saturday ahead of Sunday's game against the Steelers, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Williams suffered a wrist injury Week 5 that sidelined him on IR until he was designated to return to practice Nov. 23. While he was activated in time to play against Denver in Week 13, he now appears set to reprise a starting role in the Ravens' previously undermanned secondary. Williams recorded 33 tackles, five passes defended and three interceptions before going down in Week 5, and he should return to his every-down role alongside Chuck Clark on Sunday.
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Ravens' Marcus Williams: Designated to return from IR
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Williams (wrist) has been designated to return from injured reserve and will practice Wednesday, Clifton Brown of the Ravens' official site reports.
Williams has been on IR since dislocating his wrist in Week 5, but with the move, the Ravens open a 21-day window for the safety to be added to the active roster. When available, Williams figures to garner a prominent role in Baltimore's injury-depleted secondary.
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Ravens' Marcus Williams: Expected to miss extended time
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Williams suffered a dislocated wrist in Sunday's Week 5 win over the Bengals, Ryan Mink of the Ravens' official website reports.
Williams is expected to miss a "significant" amount of time following the wrist injury, according to head coach John Harbaugh. It's a big blow for the Ravens' secondary after the safety posted 33 tackles, five pass deflections and three interceptions while recovering a fumble over the first five weeks. In his absence, rookie Kyle Hamilton will likely step into a starting role.
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Ravens' Marcus Williams: Do-it-all role in team debut
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Williams recorded 12 tackles (10 solo) and one interception in the Ravens' Week 1 win over the Jets on Sunday.
Williams led Baltimore in tackles during his first game as one of the team's starting safeties Sunday, playing all 84 of the team's defensive snaps. The 25-year-old also intercepted Jets quarterback Joe Flacco in the first quarter. Williams' impressive debut could be an early sign of his potential starring role within the Ravens' secondary in 2022.
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Ravens' Marcus Williams: Signs huge deal with Baltimore
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Williams has agreed to a five-year, $70 million contract with the Ravens, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
After playing under a franchise tag in New Orleans last season, Williams will head to Baltimore to replace fellow free agent DeShon Elliott (pectoral) as the Ravens' starting free safety. A 2017 second-round pick, Williams started 14 or more games in each of his five seasons with the Saints, averaging 64 tackles, 7.6 pass defenses and 3.0 interceptions per season. He earned a top-10 PFF grade among safeties for four of those five campaigns, and he's one of the younger players from the 2017 draft class (he'll turn 26 in September, a few days before Baltimore's season opener).
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Saints' Marcus Williams: Questionable for Week 17
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Williams (illness) was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday but remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Panthers.
That may mean that Williams has yet to clear protocols in regards to testing negative. If he's unable to play, P.J. Williams would likely step in at free safety.
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Saints' Marcus Williams: Makes plays in Week 4 loss
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Williams had six tackles (four solo), one pass breakup, one interception and one forced fumble during the Saints' loss to the Giants in Week 4.
Williams is attractive as an IDP asset mostly due to his big-play ability, rather than his tackling floor, but he's come through for managers through the first four weeks of the season. Thus far, Williams has 17 total tackles, three pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
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Saints' Marcus Williams: Tagged by cap-strapped Saints
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The Saints are giving Williams a franchise tag, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
It's surprising given the team's cap situation, but less surprising when we consider that Williams is one of the league's top players at one of the cheaper positions. The Saints can lower the 2021 cap hit with a long-term contract or a tag-and-trade, or they can just find other ways to become compliant. Williams has 60 starts and 13 INTs to his name through four pro seasons.
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Saints' Marcus Williams: Garners full practice workload
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Williams (ankle) was a full practice participant Thursday.
Williams' status is looking promising for the Saints' wild-card matchup against Chicago, with the safety already having overcome practice restrictions from Wednesday. Given that New Orleans doesn't kick off until Sunday at 4:40 pm EST, Williams will be afforded extra recovery opportunity compared to players in earlier time slots. The 24-year-old is in line to make his first appearance since suffering a low-ankle sprain Week 15 against Kansas City, and his presence in the lineup will be welcomed. The opposing Bears had scored 30-plus points in four straight games before being stymied to the tune of 16 points by the Packers in the regular-season finale.
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Saints' Marcus Williams: Limited in Wednesday's practice
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Williams (ankle) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's injury report.
Williams has missed the past two games due to an ankle injury, but it looks like he's beginning to improve as he was able to participate in some of Wednesday's practice. Expect P.J. Williams to continue taking over the safety's duties if Marcus Williams remains injured for Sunday's wild-card matchup against the Bears.
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Saints' Marcus Williams: Won't play on Christmas
Rotowire
Williams (ankle) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the VIkings.
The 24-year-old safety has been unable to contribute even a limited practice session this week, making it unsurprising that he's been confirmed out for Christmas Day due to his high-ankle sprain. Williams' absence will mark his first of the 2020 campaign and just the third of his four-year NFL career. P.J. Williams is the expected replacement at free safety, with the opposing Vikings aiming to keep postseason hopes alive by way of a road win.
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Saints' Marcus Williams: Another pick in Week 9 victory
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Williams totaled one solo tackle and an interception in the Saints' 38-3 win over the Buccaneers on Sunday.
Williams came away with one of the Saints' three interceptions Sunday - his second of the season. The ball hawk is now up to 12 career interceptions halfway into his fourth NFL season. He'll look to add to that total when the Saints face Nick Mullens and San Francisco in Week 10.
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Saints' Marcus Williams: Working on improved tackling
Rotowire
Williams plans to focus on his tackling this offseason, Luke Johnson of Nola.com reports.
According to Williams, "I definitely have to improve my tackling. Last year was a down year." Head coach Sean Payton echoed those sentiments as well. Aside from the career-low 55 tackles (40 solo) in 2019, Williams had a solid season, nabbing four picks and scoring his first defensive touchdown, while breaking up a career-best 13 passes (second in the NFL). If he can indeed improve in the tackling department, Williams' value -- both real-world and fantasy -- should grow in his fourth NFL season.
