Mike Williams’ stint with the New York Jets ended abruptly, reminiscent of a quick celebrity marriage, as he was traded shortly before the deadline. The Pittsburgh Steelers have embraced the receiver, and early signs of their collaboration are looking positive.

In his first game, Williams recorded just one catch on one target for a total of 32 yards. However, as the saying goes, “every little bit helps.”

That single reception was significant, as it resulted in a touchdown that put the Steelers ahead. Thanks to Williams, Pittsburgh secured a victory against Washington, improving their record to 7-2 and keeping them at the top of the AFC North.

Following the Week 10 win, Williams took to social media to lightly mock his former quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.

Mike Williams Instagram post

According to PFF, Williams played just nine snaps in his Steelers debut, but he made them count by scoring the decisive touchdown on his only reception. On Monday, he referred to Rodgers on Instagram, following an incident where Rodgers seemed to blame him for running the wrong route back in Week 6.

“Thankful #WholeLotta #WeBack #RedLine,” Williams wrote in his Instagram post after his Week 10 success.

It became apparent early that there was a disconnect between Williams and Rodgers. The Jets were cautious in reintroducing Williams to game play following his recovery from a torn ACL, which inhibited their ability to create a rapport with the quarterback. Meanwhile, he had to defer to Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard as the Jets continued to search for their identity—a quest they remain on after ten weeks.

Yet, Williams’ issues with Rodgers escalated beyond just chemistry. He faced criticism from the quarterback, who implied that Williams was to blame for a game-ending interception against the Bills.

“There’s two verticals, Allen [Lazard] is down the seam, and Mike [Williams] is down the red line,” Rodgers stated post-game. “So, I’m throwing a no-look to the red line. When I look back, Mike’s running an ‘in-breaker,’ so he needs to stick to the red line.”

The team later traded for Davante Adams, making Williams the odd man out. He was traded to Pittsburgh on the trade deadline for a fifth-round pick in 2025.

What is the ‘red line’ in the NFL?

In the NFL, the ‘red line’ is a concept used during practice to instruct receivers on executing vertical routes. Players sometimes veer toward the sidelines or the middle of the field, leading to difficult throws for quarterbacks or congested areas. The goal is to keep athletes aligned on their routes, which was Rodgers’ main grievance regarding Williams during the interception.

According to SNY’s Connor Hughes, the Jets have a red line marked five yards from the sidelines on their practice field. While Williams found it challenging to adapt with the Jets, he showed no issues during his first game with the Steelers.