Williams did not record a carry or target across 17 regular-season games in 2024, but he did finish with 408 kick return yards and 185 punt return yards. After sitting out the entire 2023 campaign due to a torn ACL in his knee, Williams was able to earn a spot on the Falcons' 53-man roster for the 2024 campaign. With the Falcons' backfield dominated by Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, Williams was exclusively used on special teams as a returner on both kickoffs and punts, but he managed to record six tackles (two solo) while on coverage duties. Williams will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent and should get plenty of interest from teams looking to add a return specialist who could also contribute out of the backfield.
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Status
ACTIVELatest Avery Williams news
Other Falcons Players
Team
Atlanta Falcons
Birthdate
7/15/1998 (26)
Status
Active
HT/WT
5'9", 200 lbs
Draft Info
2021: Rd 5; Pk (ATL)
Birthplace
Pasadena, CA, USA
Position
RB
College
Boise State
Experience
4 seasons
Career History
Atlanta Falcons
2021-Present
(4 seasons)
Williams did not record a carry or target across 17 regular-season games in 2024, but he did finish with 408 kick return yards and 185 punt return yards. After sitting out the entire 2023 campaign due to a torn ACL in his knee, Williams was able to earn a spot on the Falcons' 53-man roster for the 2024 campaign. With the Falcons' backfield dominated by Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, Williams was exclusively used on special teams as a returner on both kickoffs and punts, but he managed to record six tackles (two solo) while on coverage duties. Williams will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent and should get plenty of interest from teams looking to add a return specialist who could also contribute out of the backfield.
Williams played all 24 of his snaps on special teams in Sunday's 42-21 loss to the Vikings, bringing back one punt for an 11-yard return. The reserve running back logged 22 carries for Atlanta in 2022, but he's been deployed exclusively on special teams in 2024 with Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier having both enjoyed good health this season. Williams has suited up in each of the Falcons' first 13 games and has gained 135 yards on 15 punt returns and 210 yards on 35 kickoff returns.
Williams brought back a kickoff for 21 yards and played all 23 of his snaps on special teams in Sunday's 34-14 loss to the Seahawks. Though he's listed as a running back, Williams hasn't logged any touches out of the backfield since the 2022 season and is on the Falcons' roster solely due to his role a kickoff and punt returner. Until Sunday, Jase McClellan had been inactive as the Falcons' No. 4 running back, but the rookie sixth-round pick suited up against the Seahawks and ended up getting five carries in garbage time rather than Williams when Atlanta rested top backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier late in the game.
Williams returned two punts for 12 yards and one kickoff for 28 yards during Sunday's 22-17 loss to the Chiefs. For the second time in three weeks, Williams didn't see the field on offense. He's the primary return man for Atlanta, but he ceded a kickoff to Ray-Ray McCloud versus the Chiefs. Through three games, Williams has totaled 51 punt-return yards and 50 kick-return yards.
Williams returned one punt for 11 yards and one kickoff for 22 yards during Monday's 22-21 win over the Eagles. Williams saw his first two offensive snaps of the season but didn't record a touch. He has 39 punt-return yards through two weeks and appears to have solidified himself as the Falcons' top return man.
Williams returned two punts for 28 yards during Sunday's 18-10 loss to the Steelers. Williams didn't see any offensive snaps in Week 1, as Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier handled all the RB duties. While Williams appears to be the No. 1 punt returner, WR Ray-Ray McCloud took all of Atlanta's kick returns versus Pittsburgh.
Williams and Ray-Ray McCloud are the Falcons' first-team returners to start training camp, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports. Given the new return rules in the NFL, teams are trying different techniques to start training camp. Surprisingly, phenom running back Bijan Robinson wasn't getting any looks as a return man to start training camp. Behind Williams and McCloud were Mike Hughes and Rondale Moore. Williams has totaled 803 kick-return yards and 445 punt-return yards over his first two seasons in Atlanta.
Williams (knee) participated in Atlanta's OTAs on Tuesday, Tori McElhaney of the team's official site reports. Williams missed all of the Falcons' 2023 campaign due to a knee injury, but it now seems as if he's moved past the issue. Since entering the NFL in 2021, Williams has primarily been a return man, accumulating 445 punt return yards and 803 kick return yards across two seasons. Now that Williams has returned to the field, he's expected to compete for Atlanta's top punt and kick returner spot once again throughout the offseason.