Mike Williams: From Seahawks' go-to receiver to where did he go?
SEATTLE – Mike Williams, the Seattle Seahawks’ go-to receiver last year, has become an afterthought in his second season with the team.
With No. 1 receiver Sidney Rice suffering a head injury early in the second half, Seattle needed Williams to step up Sunday.
But Williams finished without a catch for the third time this season. He was targeted three times against the Washington Redskins.
Williams did draw a pass interference penalty on former Seattle cornerback Josh Wilson in the third quarter on a deep pass, setting up a Steven Hauschka 36-yard field goal.
But he probably could have made the catch on the play, and he also dropped a pass on a back-shoulder throw early in the game that would have put Seattle in field-goal range.
Seattle receivers did not help out quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, with six drops against the Redskins.
“You get the pass interference, but you want the catch,” Williams said. “I just think on the outside, myself and this group, we didn’t win this game. We were supposed to win this game. We knew they were going to single us up, and when we did make our plays, we made them here and there.”
Williams led Seattle in receiving last year with 65 catches for 751 yards and two scores, earning a three-year, $11.2 million contract extension.
But through 11 games this season Williams has 14 catches for 192 yards and one touchdown. He’s eighth on the team in receptions.
Williams also has missed two games because of head and hamstring injuries.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll said Williams suffered a shoulder injury in the second half, so Seattle used Ben Obomanu more.
“I kind of landed on my shoulder,” Williams said. “But I wasn’t playing good anyway, so I don’t think it mattered if I was healthy or not. Like I said, this whole year has been not what I’ve been accustomed to, and not what I had for myself from the beginning.
“So I have to kind of get out of this rut and try to get my rhythm back. But today there were some plays and an opportunity for me to have a big day, and it just didn’t work out.”
TEMPERS FLARE DURING COIN FLIP
The game started with some fireworks, with Seattle fullback and special teams co-captain Michael Robinson and Washington cornerback DeAngelo Hall jawing at midfield before the coin flip.
The war of words eventually escalated to pushing and shoving, with coaches on both teams having to get involved to calm the players.
“We were just competing, and words were said,” Robinson said. “I think it was a little different because it’s another guy from Virginia, stuff like that. It’s definitely out of character. I want to apologize to my teammates and all of the Seahawks fans, stuff like that.”
Asked if it was something personal that escalated, Robinson said about Hall: “No, he’s garbage, man.”
Seattle’s other special teams co-captain, Leon Washington, could be seen jawing with Washington tackle Trent Williams toward the end of the skirmish.
“That was just football and the intensity of the game,” Washington said. “We’re professionals, so I wouldn’t say it set the tone. But we’re professionals. It’s football, and I think both sides knew that they weren’t going to take more from it than that. It was just a little jawing back and forth, but that’s all it was.”
Said Williams: “Yeah, there was a lot of trash talking, but we love those type of games. There was no disrespect to nobody. That’s just football. Shake their hand after the game and tell them how great they played.”
EXTRA POINTS
Carroll said he doesn’t know how bad Rice’s head injury is, but the receiver will be evaluated today. It’s the second concussion Rice has suffered this season. Linebacker David Hawthorne injured his knee in the second half but returned to the game. Carroll said receiver Doug Baldwin suffered a shoulder injury and linebacker Leroy Hill a foot injury, but both remained on the field. ... Seattle inactive players included quarterback Josh Portis, receiver Deon Butler, cornerback Ron Parker, cornerback Byron Maxwell, offensive tackle Jarriel King, offensive tackle Allen Barbre and defensive tackle Alan Branch. ... Ex-Seahawks linebacker Rufus Porter raised the 12th Man flag before the game.
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437 eric.williams@thenewstribune.com
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