Chargers News: Mike Williams Comments on Possibility of Returning to Bolts

The former first-round pick wants to stay in the powder blue.

The 2023 Los Angeles Chargers season was one to forget, and a lot of it was due to injuries. Bad play also had a lot to do with their downfall, don't get me wrong, but injuries also played a factor. 

Many of LA's big stars missed a ton of games, including their former first-round pick, wide receiver Mike Williams. Williams only played three games in 2023 before tearing his ACL in Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings. 

Williams' injury started a string of many bad things to come. That's all in the past now; 2024 is ahead of us, and it will be Williams's final year of his three-year contract. Although 81 has shown he can still ball at a high level, there is a chance he could be moved this off-season. Whether that will happen or not is not up to us or him. One thing is for sure: Williams wants to be a Charger, as he told Chargers insider from ESPN Kris Rhim. 

Chargers WR Mike Williams said he wants to be back next year. Also said he’s ahead of schedule on his ACL recovery but wouldn’t share where he is specifically.

— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) January 8, 2024

The 29-year-old will enter the final year of his three-year worth $60 million. In 2024, his base salary will be $17 million, according to Sportrac.com, before becoming an unrestricted free agent. 

By then, he will be 31 years old, and with his injury history, it'll be hard for him to get another contract like this. The Chargers may want to go in a different direction, as they have a top-five draft pick and will be getting a new head coach and general manager. 

There will be a new regime in LA soon, which may not be a good sign for the older/veteran players. It doesn't essentially mean it will happen, but it's clear that the Bolts need to go in a different direction. 

Before suffering his injury, Williams recorded 19 receptions for 249 yards and one touchdown with a catch percentage of 73.1%. He may not be the same after a significant injury, but crazier things have happened.