Avery Williamson has a new NFL home

Avery Williamson’s NFL career isn’t over yet. The former Kentucky Wildcat linebacker was unemployed to start the 2021 NFL season but stayed in shape and by the phone in case a spot opened up.

On Tuesday, a new job opportunity came in the form of a practice squad contract from the Denver Broncos and Williamson accepted the position.

“Happy to be a part of Bronco Nation!!,” Williamson tweeted Tuesday night.

Happy to be a part of Bronco Nation!! 😎🐎

— Avery Williamson (@AWilliamson54) October 6, 2021

Now in his eighth NFL season, Williamson moves to the Mile High City to help a depleted Broncos linebacker room where multiple players are on injured reserve.

First, former UGA linebacker Natrez Patrick was placed on IR in the preseason. Then in Week 3, starting inside linebacker Josey Jewell suffered a season-ending pectoral injury that ended his run of 18 straight starts in the middle of Denver’s defense. In that same game, WLB Bradley Chubb re-injured his left ankle and needed surgery the following week. One game later, Jonas Griffith, Jewell’s replacement at ILB, was moved to IR with a hamstring injury. One more, third-round draft pick Baron Browning was inactive last week with a back injury.

Year 8 for Williamson

Avery Williamson was a 2014 fifth-round draft pick to the Tennessee Titans (Titan Up) after an All-SEC career in Lexington. The Milan, Tennessee native played four seasons with the Titans (next to Wesley Woodyard, another former Wildcat linebacker) until the New York Jets offered him more than Tennessee was willing to match for his second NFL contract in 2018, a three-year deal.

After two-plus seasons in New York (one on the sideline with an ACL injury), the Jets shipped Williamson to Pittsburgh for a draft pick midway through the 2020 season. He played the last seven games of 2020 with the Steelers and was not brought back on a new deal for 2021.

Now Williamson has new NFL life in Denver.