Falcons Running Back and Punt Returner Avery Williams Tears ACL

Atlanta, Georgia (PSF) - Head Coach Arthur Smith Fears Williams “will probably be done for the year.”

Jason Getz of USA Today Sports

The special teams unit for the Atlanta Falcons took a big blow today, as punt returner Avery Williams underwent surgery for a torn ACL. Williams suffered this injury last Friday at an open OTA practice on the Falcons’ home field. 

Williams is a key contributor to the special teams of the Falcons, as he averaged 16.2 yards per punt return, and 19.6 yards per kick return last season. Falcons Head Coach Arthur Smith told reporters Wednesday “He’s got the right mindset, and [we] fully expect him to come back ready to roll.”

The Falcons selected Williams in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, as a cornerback out of Boise State. Their idea in drafting him here was to use him as a special teams contributor, and he has excelled in that role in his time in Atlanta, and contributed to the running offense of the Falcons last year as well, after converting to the running back position in 2022. 

The Falcons have multiple other candidates to pick up the work that Williams leaves behind this season, with running back Cordarelle Patterson likely seeing more action as a kick returner due to this injury. Patterson holds the record for most kickoff return touchdowns in NFL history with nine and looks to extend that lead this season.