The NFL season is in full swing. As we enter Week 5, injuries have already started piling up, teams are cutting underperforming players, and front offices are already looking for ways to add to their rosters to address the emerging issues. This means that free agents who are still available on the market will continue to be picked up throughout the season.
Surprisingly, there are still plenty of veterans who remain unsigned and could contribute to a team in the right situation. One of those players is former Detroit Lions running back Jamaal Williams.
Jamaal Williams' Prospects of Finding a New Team Dwindling by the Day
Williams became a free agent back in March when the New Orleans Saints released him with one more year left on his contract. He had signed a three-year deal with the Saints after his stint in Detroit, but things never really worked out for him in New Orleans. In his first year there, he failed to score a touchdown until the final play of the regular season and averaged a career-low 2.9 yards per carry.
His second season in New Orleans didn't improve things for Williams, who still holds the Lions franchise record for most rushing touchdowns in a season with 17. His 2022 campaign, when he ran for 1,066 yards and 17 touchdowns, remains one of the more impressive RB productions in recent memory. Spending his second year with the Saints behind Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill, while only running for 164 yards on 48 carries, saw Williams get released after the season.
Since then, Williams has been struggling to find a new home. Ben Johnson, who Williams had his best stint under, brought him in for a workout with the Bears back in August, but a deal didn't materialize. Following that missed opportunity, we haven't heard much regarding news or workouts for Williams, which could suggest that his prospects of finding a team any time soon may be dwindling.
The 30-year-old playmaker's career can act as a perfect representation of life in the NFL as a running back. Running backs are so often a product of their system, and can look entirely different depending on the situation, including play calling, the coaching staff, or the offensive line. One has to wonder where Williams' career would be if he had never left for New Orleans. However, considering how the Lions' run game is today, the team likely has no regrets over letting him walk as a free agent in 2023.