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Chris Lim, ESPN
The Los Angeles Chargers have released wide receiver Mike Williams, the team announced Wednesday.
The move will save the Chargers $20 million this year, while incurring a $12.46 million dead money charge. Under league rules, the Chargers are required to be under the league's salary cap of $255.4 million by 4 p.m. ET Wednesday. Williams' release would put them in salary cap compliance.
Meanwhile, pass rusher Khalil Mack has agreed to restructure his contract to save salary cap space and will remain with the Chargers next season, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday. Ta.
The Chargers selected Williams with the seventh pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Known for his catching prowess, Williams formed one of the league's best receiver tandems with Keenan Allen over seven seasons. The Chargers signed him to a three-year, $60 million contract through 2022.
However, Williams' past two seasons were marred by injuries. Williams broke his back in the final minutes of the Chargers' final regular-season game against the Denver Broncos in 2022, forcing him to miss the wild-card playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ta.
When Williams returns for the 2023 season, he looks like the player the Chargers invested in and is on the verge of having a career day in Week 3, with 121 yards and a touchdown through the third quarter. Looked. But with two minutes remaining, Williams took a juke to his left knee, tearing his ACL. He missed the remainder of the season.
Williams, 29, has 309 receptions for 4,806 yards and 31 touchdowns in his career.
Mack, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, recorded a career-high 17 sacks last season for a career total of 101.5 sacks.
The Chargers traded Mack two seasons ago, sending a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 sixth-round pick to the Chicago Bears. Mack's 25 sacks in two seasons in Los Angeles are ninth in the NFL.
Mack declared his desire to win a Super Bowl during his first press conference of training camp, telling reporters, “At this point in my career, that's the only thing on my mind.” .
Mack, 33, will look to accomplish that goal next season under new Chargers manager Jim Harbaugh.
