The rounds of visits and workouts continues for Karlos Williams, who right now is generating more interest with the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers than anyone else.
The recently released running back has already met with the Jets decision makers, and now has a workout with the Steelers behind him. What’s next? Maybe contract offers, maybe more visits. The interesting thing with the Steelers is that Williams will be suspended for the first four games of the season due to substance abuse, while the Steelers will already have Le’Veon Bell back by then, as the former Michigan State man is suspended for the first 3 games of the season.
The Steelers don’t have much behind Bell and DeAngelo Williams, who’ll once again fill in for Bell. Fitzgerald Toussaint rushed just 18 times last season in Pittsburgh, and Daryl Richardson hasn’t played since 2013. Williams, even if he’s still a bit over the weight he should be in, is obviously better than both of them, but he can’t help the Steelers right away when they need him the most. Maybe this is just to pick up some information on him, in case Bell returning doesn’t have the expected impact.
Williams had a good rookie season with the Buffalo Bills in 2015, rushing for 517 yards and 7 touchdowns, stepping in nicely for LeSean McCoy when necessary. However, going up to 260 pounds during the offseason and his four game suspension seemed to be too much to handle for the Bills, releasing him before the season began. Williams has since been working on shedding down the extra pounds, and if he’s more serious about football than the Bills assessed, he’ll end up finding a team to sign him sooner or later. He’s too good to be left out so early in his career.