Former Detroit Lions wide receiver and return specialist Isaiah Williams has been cut by the Cincinnati Bengals just ahead of the NFL’s roster deadline on Tuesday, according to a report from WLWT’s Charlie Clifford.
After signing with the Lions as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois last year, he made Detroit’s initial 53-man roster for Week 1.
He played in two games with Detroit, catching two passes for six yards and handling one kickoff return before he was released by the team in November.
The Bengals claimed Williams off of waivers the day after his release and took over punt return responsibilities for the team beginning in Week 14 of the 2024 season.
During training camp this year, Williams wasn’t able to earn a spot on the initial Cincinnati roster this time around as he was reportedly released. NFL teams are required to cut their rosters down to that 53-player mark by 4 p.m.
Initially a quarterback for his first two years at Illinois, Williams became an All-Big Ten receiver in 2023, totaling 1,055 yards and five touchdowns in his final season with the Fighting Illini.
Williams got plenty of reps during preseason, playing 71 snaps at receiver and 14 on special teams in three games.
However he was only targeted six times as a receiver with three catches for 33 yards, while returning six kickoffs and three punts.
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