While WR Mike Williams has yet to practice with his new team, he is doing everything he can to be ready for the Week 1 Monday night game at San Francisco.
"For the season, for sure," Williams said about when he would be ready to play. "That's my goal to be able to go out there, play this season and give it my all, give this team a chance, win the big thing."
Williams, who is entering his eighth season in the NFL, has been rehabbing from an ACL injury sustained in Week 3 last season. He said the hardest part of the rehab is constantly reminding himself not to rush back before he's ready.
"See, that's been tough," Williams said. "Just watching those guys every day and wanting to be out there, you don't want to go too fast or anything. You just want to stick to the schedule, stick to the program and just trust the process. So that's my main thing, to trust the process. I'm seeing a lot of progress, so just keep my head down and keep working."
While he has not been able to participate on the field, he has been participating off the field. Williams has been creating chemistry with his fellow wide receivers and his new QB in meetings.
"Well, for me it's in the meetings," Williams said about how he is developing chemistry while not being on the field. "Being in the meetings, talking to Allen [Lazard], Allen knows the offense. So just talking to him, asking him like the ins and outs, because I'm not actually out there running the play. So just, 'oh, when you line up right here, how does Aaron [Rodgers] like you to do it at the top of this route?' or talking to Aaron in the weight room or something. Just going over stuff. But it's more mental stuff right now in the receiver room or in the meeting room, just talking to the guys."
He said that wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson, back for his second stint with the Green & White, has been a big help and has already received high remarks from his players.
"He's up there with some of the receiver coaches I've had as one of the best," Williams said. "He shows up every day and brings the energy. He's coached a lot of great guys in this league, so he knows what it takes to get you to that level. I'm excited to get on the field and work with him."
While Williams is making progress in his rehab and building chemistry with his new teammates, he's eager to get back on the field. Williams will be in Florham Park for the next month while most of his teammates are away before the start of training camp next month.
"This is what I do. I mean, I play football," he said. "So, I want to wake up and do it every day. Just not being able to go out there with the guys and do that is just frustrating. Like I said, I just got to stick to the program and keep chopping at wood."
