Karlos Williams‘ redemption tour recently stopped in Pittsburgh. The second-year running back worked out for the Steelers, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports, in addition to his Jets visit.
Williams, who went unclaimed on waivers, made his first post-cut stop to meet with the Jets, with whom he met with the franchise’s top decision-making personnel.
The Bills cut the embattled running back despite a standout rookie season supplementing LeSean McCoy off the bench and in the starting lineup when the starter missed time. Williams averaged 5.6 yards per carry while rushing for 517 yards and scoring nine total touchdowns as a rookie. Buffalo, though, lost patience with him after the league penalized him four games for substance-abuse issues and Williams struggled with his weight.
Schefter, who reported Williams’ weight ballooned to over 260 pounds this offseason, added the former fifth-round pick is working his way back into shape. He remains suspended for four games, so the Steelers wouldn’t be able to use the 23-year-old ball-carrier early in the season behind DeAngelo Williams were they to sign him.
Le’Veon Bell will miss the first three games of the season, and behind Williams Pittsburgh employs Fitzgerald Toussaint and former Ram Daryl Richardson. So, while the Steelers could use some help in the short-term, they’d only be getting Karlos Williams after Bell’s suspension concludes.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
I don’t see the need for Karlos unless they don’t plan on bringing Deangelo backbeat year. He would be a solid #3 incase LeVeon gets hurt again.
I don’t think we will be able to afford deangelo again next year, especially if he plays well again. Conversely, he is also getting up in age and Williams is younger. I’d like the move as a post week one signing when the contract isn’t guaranteed for the year.
They should get him nice insurance on the back field
This would not be a shortsighted pickup; this is a case where you have a chance to get a young talented RB for nothing because he had some off field issues. He is Vince Williams brother and if he is saying he’s learned from this then you have a chance to have a great young RB for many years. And can you ever have too many of those?