After rocky rookie season, Mike Williams wants to recapture first-round form with Chargers

Lindsay H. Jones | USA TODAY

COSTA MESA, Calif. – Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams won’t even try to put a positive spin about it. He knows his rookie year was a bust.

A nagging back injury, suffered while lifting weights last offseason, limited the 2017 first-round pick to just 11 catches in 10 games, nowhere near the impact he imagined having after Los Angeles took selected him out of Clemson at No. 7 overall.

“It was a bad year. I’ll be the first one to tell you it was not what I expected,” Williams told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday. “I tried to come out here and play, tried to make some plays. But I couldn't do what Mike Williams is known for. I wasn't able to move my body how I wanted to move it. “

The injury never required surgery, but it kept Williams off the field during last year’s offseason practices and training camp, and he never felt healthy during his limited appearances in games. And it wasn’t just that the sore back prohibited him from running as fast and jumping as high as he is capable of. The lack of practice time early in the year also left him behind the team’s other receivers.

“It was hard not being out here while the guys were working,” Williams said. “You have to wait your turn. (Quarterback) Philip (Rivers) already had his weapons who he is used to throwing the ball to. I mean, now I just have to come out here and earn that trust.”

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Williams remained in Southern California during the offseason to rehab his back and has been slowly integrated back into the Chargers’ offense this spring. If he can stay healthy through camp, his return will function as somewhat of a bonus first-round pick.

“Before (the injury), he was impressive, and after that, he's been impressive. Mike just needs to stay on the field and we need to get him into games,” Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn told USA TODAY Sports.

While the Chargers were largely quiet in free agency – the biggest move was adding former Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey, who was released by the Dolphins in March – getting Williams and 2017 second-round pick guard Forrest Lamp, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament during his rookie training camp, into the starting lineup could have a major impact. The Chargers are also anticipating the return of former first-round pick cornerback Jason Verrett, who played just five games over the past seasons because of multiple surgeries to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

“I'd love to have those three. Those are like three first-round picks for me, I've barely seen them play,” Lynn said.

For Williams in particular, the offseason provides a chance at redemption. Though he was limited in practices and in games last year, he was able to spend the year learning the offense and adapting to Rivers’ leadership style. But now he can truly work on improving on the field as a route runner and building chemistry with Rivers to make up for the time he missed last year.

“I think it humbled him. He came back hungrier,” receiver Keenan Allen told USA TODAY Sports. “I think he wants to make plays now, and he's planning to make plays. He's moving faster.”

Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones.