Paul Bretl | 8/9/2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The playing time up to this point in training camp for Packers’ third-round draft pick Savion Williams has been a bit sporadic as he has navigated injuries. But when Williams has gotten his opportunities, his ability with the ball in his hands has popped.
Measuring in at 6-4 – 222 pounds with 4.48 speed, in a wide receiver room with a variety of skill sets, Williams brings a different element to that unit. During his final season at TCU, Williams did a bit of everything, from being targeted 83 times in the passing game to carrying the ball 51 times, along with being the wildcat quarterback when needed as well.
“I think the biggest thing is just when he gets the ball in his hands,” Jordan Love said of Williams. “I think he’s a pretty good runner and I think obviously watching his college tape, he’s a pretty hard guy to tackle. I’m excited to see what he’s going to do once we get in preseason and get some guys actually trying to tackle him and bring him to the ground.”
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Following his senior season, Williams would undergo labrum surgery. This then limited him to individual drills during offseason programs, with Williams wearing a red non-contact jersey in those practices.
He then missed a couple of days during training camp with a concussion and another practice with an undisclosed injury.
For any rookie, there is going to be a learning curve that comes with making the jump to the NFL level as they adjust to the play speed and what is a robust playbook on the offensive side of the ball under Matt LaFleur.
However, that learning curve can be extended when a player isn’t getting regular on-field reps.
“I think the same thing for is just wrapping his mind around the offense,” Love continued. “I think not having OTAs for him, it sucks because you’re missing a lot of valuable reps so you’ve kinda got to get thrown into the mix in training camp.
“But I think for him just continuing to keep understanding the offense, where he needs to be on every play and not thinking as much out there, but I’m excited to see him in preseason. He’s a good playmaker once he gets that ball in his hand.”
At this locker on Thursday, following that day’s training camp practice, Williams acknowledged that it’s been a “little bit” of a frustrating start as he’s worked through injuries, but his off-the-field work in the meeting rooms has helped him hit the ground running.
“Just keeping my head down, knowing my role,” Williams said of getting through these early injuries. “That’s it.”
Helping Williams has been having fellow rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden to go through this process with.
“I think that makes it fun and easier because you’ve got somebody else learning and going through the same thing you’re going through,” Williams said.
In these training camp practices, Williams has seen work with the first, second, and third-team offenses in what I imagine is an effort on the Packers’ part to get him as many reps as possible and back up to speed.
As Love mentioned, Williams’ ability with the ball in his hands is impressive, and the offense has prioritized getting the ball in his hands behind the line of scrimmage on quick throws or on shallow crossers, where he can have the opportunity to operate in space.
While Williams is continuing to learn the new scheme, the coaching staff is also learning how to best utilize him within the offense in order to see what he can handle and how to maximize his skill set to put him in the best position to be successful.
Saturday’s preseason game against the Jets will provide a good opportunity to see where things stand in both regards.
“When I get my chance, I’ve got to make my opportunity count,” said Williams.