Chris Mortensen gives warning on Jameson Williams injury

Chris Mortensen of ESPN is offering a warning regarding the status of former Alabama star wide receiver Jameson Williams. While Williams suffered a devastating ACL injury in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, the word has been Williams will be fine for his rookie season.

Evidently, Mel Kiper is one of those belivers. To illustrate, Kiper has Williams being selected by the Patriots at No. 21 overall in his latest mock draft. However, during SportsCenter Special: Mel Kiper’s NFL Mock Draft 3.0, Mortensen stated that the football world needs to be more realistic with their expectations.

“As you know, he was injured in the national championship game on January 10th, and had that ACL surgery,” started Mortensen. “Now, the word is he’s ahead of schedule. Be careful about that. Dr. James Andrews — Williams just left Andrews’ institute, where he’s been rehabbing — always has asked me to deliver a public service message. Which is basically these ACL injuries are minimum nine months, but 12 months until he really becomes himself again.

“So yes, the Patriots can take him. But you’re going to have to be patient. Because he’s not going to get training camp to get ready. In fact, by the way, if he slips to 25, with the Bills having added a Jamison Crowder to their receiving corps, they might now take a shot at Williams if he falls past down to there. Because they have the patience for a guy coming off an ACL injury who is not ready at all. Despite what everybody says.”

Moreover, Mortensen makes a good point regarding Williams — teams will have to weigh the risk vs. the reward. Nevertheless, whichever franchise drafts Jameson Williams is getting a bonafide star at the wide receiver position — it just may take some time.

Mel Kiper on Jameson Williams, unique skillset: ‘You certainly want that on your football team.’

One staunch believer in Jameson Williams is the aforementioned ESPN’s NFL Draft Guru Mel Kiper. Throughout the pre-draft process, Kiper has been raving about what an incredible value the electrifying playmaker is in this year’s draft.

“You’re betting on a kid that had he stayed healthy, I think Alabama wins that game against Georgia,” Kiper said. “It was a shame he got hurt. Obviously from Alabama’s standpoint they move on to win a national title and for Jameson he would have been a guaranteed top 10 pick. He took the top off the defense every week. And now he falls into the late first round. You talk about being a bargain. Yeah, I would wait it out for Jameson Williams. That kind of speed. That electricity. The hands. The attitude. The warrior mentality he has.

“You certainly want that on your football team. Yeah, I would wait it out for a guy who would have been a top 10 pick, if I’m in the late first round and he’s still on the board.”

As you can see, Mel Kiper believes Jameson Williams could be the biggest steal of the 2022 NFL Draft. After watching the star wide receiver blossom at Alabama, it’s tough to bet against his potential.