KC Chiefs: The pros and cons of re-signing Damien Williams
By Matt Conner
Veteran running back Damien Williams has hit free agency before the Kansas City Chiefs get into the final few games and into the postseason.
The Atlanta Falcons made some moves on Monday, one of which included letting a familiar face go free back onto the open market with the release of former KC Chiefs running back Damien Williams. According to an extra note from NFL reporter Adam Schefter when posting the news, Williams is “100% healthy and well rested.”
Now 30 years old, Williams had only 2 carries for 2 yards in six games with the Falcons, a veteran who was obviously crowded out of any real opportunities after missing time early in the season due to injury. A mix of Cordarelle Patterson and younger players simply removed Williams from the equation on offense.
Now that he’s a free agent again, should the Chiefs make a move to bring him back for some more postseason magic? Even the responses to Schefter’s tweet signaled interest on the part of some Chiefs fans to make it happen. Let’s take a look.
The pros of re-signing Damien Williams
Damien Williams needs no introduction to Chiefs Kingdom. In two seasons in K.C., back in 2018-19, Williams was a postseason hero for an ascending young team. In five postseason games for the Chiefs, Williams put up 540 yards from scrimmage and an incredible 10 touchdowns—two per game! He was also a threat on the ground and through the air and looked like an ideal weapon in Andy Reid’s offense.
While the Chiefs have seen other players rise to the occasion in the postseason, including Jerick McKinnon, the truth is that Williams was productive even on another level from him. It makes sense to at least consider the possibility—right?
The Chiefs right now are down a running back with Clyde Edwards-Helaire placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. He’s eligible to return soon, but who knows if he’ll be ready in that minimal timetable. The Chiefs also aren’t that enamored with their other options or else we would have seen Ronald Jones get a lot more carries by now. We also could have seen Melvin Gordon on the active roster.
The Chiefs have been bolstering the practice squad with numerous veterans for the stretch run as it is, hoping to provide maximum security for the end of a grueling season. Veterans like defensive tackle Brandon Williams, center Austin Reiter, and Gordon are all part of that group of newer practice squad additions, so it shows that Veach is interested in this sort of signing—at least on a macro level.
Williams has already proven himself in numerous postseason games. He knows Andy Reid’s offense and has chemistry with Patrick Mahomes. After a year off in 2020 and mostly this season, too, it’s not as if he’s been overused as he’s gotten older, which means he have retained more spring in his step than you might think.