Injury To Chargers Star Wide Receiver Mike Williams Is Far Worse Than Initially Feared

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The NFL season is likely over for Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams.

The Chargers selected Williams with the seventh overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and he’s since helped form one of the league’s best wide receiver tandems with teammate Keenan Allen.

While Williams has not yet made a Pro Bowl, he’s twice surpassed 1,000 yards, including a breakout 2021 season that saw him catch 76 passes for 1,146 yards and nine touchdowns.

Despite being limited by injuries, Williams was once again a big time player for LA this season. He caught 63 passes for 895 yards and four touchdowns in just 13 games.

Williams and Allen had the Chargers looking like a serious threat entering the playoffs. Especially with the recent return of superstar defensive end Joey Bosa on the other side of the ball.

But now LA will have to move forward with Williams, likely for the entirety of its playoff run.

Mike Williams Suffers Spinal Fracture That Will Keep Him Out Of Playoff Run

Chargers coach Brandon Staley came under fire when Williams was forced to leave LA’s Week 18 loss to the Denver Broncos with a back injury. Los Angeles was locked into the fifth seed at the time.

As it turns out, that injury was worse than initially feared. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported Friday that Williams suffered spinal fracture that will see him out at least a couple of weeks.

ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry then reported that Williams’ season is likely over barring a Chargers Super Bowl run.

Barring a Super Bowl run, Williams’ season is likely over.

Williams had been downgraded to out for Saturday’s wild-card playoff game at the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Chargers said Williams would remain in Los Angeles to continue receiving treatment.

The sixth-year receiver had not practiced all week after being injured in the regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos, a game that did not affect the Chargers’ playoff position.

An initial X-ray on Williams was negative, and a first MRI also appeared negative. However, Williams was not progressing as expected on an initial diagnosis of a back contusion, leading to an additional MRI and the fracture diagnosis.

Los Angeles is a 1.5-point favorite of Jacksonville in their AFC Wild Card matchup on Saturday. The Chargers are looking for their first playoff victory since 2018.