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Steelers working to incorporate Williams into offense

Incorporating new wide receiver Mike Williams into the offense is a good problem to have.

But it's something Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and quarterback Russell Wilson have been tasked with doing this week after Williams was acquired from the Jets at the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday.

Neither is complaining, as it's always nice to add another weapon to the offense. But getting Williams up to speed as quickly as possible as the Steelers (6-2) head to Washington to face the Commanders (7-2) Sunday is a different matter.

"Sometimes people get lost and they're like my 11-year-old son playing Madden with the salary cap turned off and think you can just stockpile players," said Smith. "That's not real life. Chemistry and fit matter. What is a guy's role going to be? It's going to be different from the team he was previously on. They've got to earn their role, too.

"There can be some challenges, if it's not done the right way. You have to be mindful of the guys that have been here, guys that have been doing really well for us. Putting a guy up that comes in mid-year, you're taking reps from somebody else."

In other words, you don't want to upset the apple cart when it comes to your locker room chemistry. And that's where Wilson could come into play.

The 13-year veteran has been in the league long enough to know that wide receivers want the football. But there also are only so many balls to go around.

He's also, however, liked what he's seen of Williams thus far.

"Mike has done a great job so far coming in. He's been great in the meetings," said Wilson, who had competed against Williams the past two seasons in the AFC West when we was with the Broncos and Williams was with the Chargers.

"He's been great in the field, just a lot of attention to detail. You can tell he's a pro. I've been able to play against him for several years. He's a dominant receiver. He can make some great plays. The good thing is that we've got a lot of great players. We've got a lot of great receivers. Obviously, George (Pickens), the addition of Mike, but also Van (Jefferson) has been playing unbelievable football. Calvin (Austin III), and we believe in Scotty Miller and all the things he can do.

"We just have a plethora of guys that can really make plays, and obviously our tight ends and our running backs. So, it's just a guy who wants to win, a guy who's competitive, and he's determined to show who he is."

So Williams' role might evolve over time as his new coordinator and quarterback learn more about Williams and his talents.

And it might not come right away. Williams missed the entire offseason and preseason while rehabbing a torn ACL suffered early last season with the Chargers.

For the Jets this season, he had 12 catches for 166 yards. But he was slowed early in the season as he worked his way back into game shape, and then saw his playing time affected by New York's acquisition of Davante Adams a few weeks ago via trade.

Dale Lolley is co-host of "SNR Drive" on Steelers Nation Radio. Subscribe to the podcast here: Apple Podcast | iHeart Podcast

"He didn't have a real offseason," said Smith. "He got hurt in September of last year. A lot of times, guys coming off a knee injury … you could see it. It will get better week to week. You have to be mindful of that. We just have to make sure he's ready to go and help us if he is (active)."

Much of that will depend on how quickly Wilson and Smith can get Williams acclimated to what the Steelers are asking of him.

One thing they know he can do is challenge defenses down the sideline, a specialty of Wilson's game, as well. Williams has averaged 15.5 yards per catch in his eight-year career on his 321 career receptions.

"I think when you look out there, you realize a guy is 6-foot-5 and can run the way (he can), can jump up and catch the ball and run past people, and he's physical," said Wilson. "Even in the short game, he can catch a slant, catch a hitch, catch a post route. He can run every route. He's a guy that's had 1,000-yard plus yard seasons.

"He can make some plays. He's a guy that's really been special over the years."

Adding that player to this offense and getting him acclimated quickly is the key.

"He'll be a really good addition for us, because he's competitive in that sense, he's got the right mentality," Wilson said.

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