New Jets wide receiver Mike Williams will be making a limited appearance Monday night against the 49ers.
Jets coach Robert Saleh said Williams will be kept on a strict play count as he returns from the ACL injury and surgery that ended his 2023 season.
Saleh said even if Williams looks ready for a bigger role, the Jets will hold him back early in the season.
The Jets did the same thing with running back Breece Hall last season as he came back from an ACL injury.
Hall’s snaps were limited in the first few weeks of the season.
“[Williams] could be ready for 60 plays and we’re still going to be very smart with how we use him,” Saleh said. “It’s no different than Breece. Breece was ready to roll but we wanted to make sure we were forward-thinking with regard to the long haul. He’s going to have plenty of impact on this game, but at the same time we’re going to be smart with him because our eyes are on the entire season, not just Week 1.”
Williams missed most of training camp but returned to team drills last week and said he is ready to play Monday night against the 49ers.
The Jets began their practice preparation for the 49ers on Thursday and DE Haason Reddick remained a holdout.
The Jets have their heaviest days of preparation Thursday and Friday before light work Saturday before Monday’s game.
Reddick is unlikely to play Monday as he continues to wait for a new contract. Saleh said he is not ruling him out yet and Reddick still could play Monday.
“It’s feasible,” Saleh said. “The opponent we’re playing now just had two guys show up to practice. You trust that your veterans who know how to do things the right way will get themselves ready to play.”
Backup OL Wes Schweitzer did not practice Thursday because of a hand injury.
OT Tyron Smith was limited but it was just to rest him.
49ers star RB Christian McCaffrey was limited in practice Thursday with a calf/Achilles injury.
