Williams played six games for Cincinnati in 2024 after being acquired on waivers from Detroit in November ... Took over punt return duties for Bengals, and contributed 11 PRs for 93 yards (8.5 average) ... Entered NFL as CFA signee of Lions in May, and played two games for Detroit before being waived ... Finished Illinois career with first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors as WR and honorable mention as a return specialist in 2023.
Signed with Detroit as college free agent on 5-10-24 ... Waived by Lions on 11-7-24 ... Acquired by Cincinnati on waivers from Detroit on 11-8-24.
2024—Played eight games as rookie (two with Detroit, six with Cincinnati) ... Active/DNP in one game and inactive for six games ... Season totals were two receptions for six yards, 11 PRs for 93 yards (8.5 average), and five KORs for 169 yards (33.8) ... Made NFL debut for Detroit on Oct. 27 vs. Tennessee and caught two passes for six yards ... Waived by Lions on Nov. 8, and acquired on waivers by Cincinnati the following day ... Inactive for Nov. 17 game at L.A. Chargers ... Made Bengals debut on Dec. 1 vs. Pittsburgh, lining up for three offensive snaps and fair catching one punt ... Returned four punts for 25 yards on Dec. 9 at Dallas ... Had 15-yard PR in third quarter on Dec. 15 at Tennessee ... Returned three punts for 25 yards on Dec. 22 vs. Cleveland ... Had four KORs for 133 yards and two PRs for 24 yards on Jan. 4 at Pittsburgh.
Spent five seasons (2019-23) at Illinois ... Began career as a QB, playing in four games as a true freshman in 2019 and five games in '20 before transitioning to WR for '21-23 seasons ... Completed 30 of 74 passes for 445 yards and five TDs with three INTs, while rushing 103 times for 509 yards and three TDs ... Caught 214 passes for 2304 yards and 14 TDs ... Also returned 27 punts for 247 yards (9.1 average) ... In 2023, led Big Ten during regular season in receptions (82) and ranked second in receiving yards (1055), while returning 11 punts for 127 yards (11.5) ... Named first-team All-Big Ten as a WR and honorable mention All-Big Ten as a return specialist.
Hometown is St. Louis, Mo. ... Attended Trinity Catholic High School in St. Louis ... As a senior in 2018, was named Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year, an Under Armour All-American, the USA Today Missouri Offensive Player of the Year, and Missouri Football Coaches Association Class 3 All-State First Team selection ... Passed for 2470 yards and 33 TDs as a senior, while rushing for 1132 yards and 11 TDs ... Also played basketball and ran track ... Majored in recreation, sport, and tourism at Illinois.
