Linebacker Quincy Williams on trade talk: 'I want to be a Jet'
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is tackled by Jets linebacker Quincy Williams during the second half of an NFL game Sunday in Cincinnati. Credit: AP/Joshua A. Bickel
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – Quincy Williams hopes Sunday’s game wasn’t his last one as a Jet. If it was, Williams said he would give the Jets "hell" when he plays them.
Williams is one of several Jets who could be on the move by next Tuesday’s trade deadline. Before leaving for the bye week, Williams told Newsday that he wants to remain a Jet. He’s in the final year of a three-year, $18 million contract and there has been no extension talks yet.
“I can’t control it,” Williams told Newsday. “If I get that call and they’re like, ‘Hey, you’re going somewhere.’ I’ll be like, “Hey, I love y'all, appreciate everything. I'm going to go ball, but it's going to be hell when you play me.’ It's kind of like one of them things like I'm prepared. I want to be a Jet. So it's up to them.”
The fast, hard-hitting linebacker is in his fifth season with the Jets. He’s had at least 106 tackles for four straight seasons and was first-team All Pro two years ago.
Williams returned Sunday from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for four games. He finished with seven tackles, one for loss, and two passes defended in the Jets’ 39-38 win over Cincinnati. The fact that Williams showed he’s back and healthy could increase contending teams’ interest in him.
“I never thought about it because when all this talk was going on I had got injured,” Williams said. “My whole purpose was like, I need to be healthy for this team or if they decide to go another route, I still need to be healthy for the other team. So my whole focus was on being healthy, being healthy, being healthy.”
Williams said he hasn’t had any conversations with Jets’ first-year general manager Darren Mougey about his future.
“I hear all the outside noise stuff, but I can't really focus on that,” Williams said. “So I just make sure my play is good, then make sure I'm healthy, controlling what I can control. And then if they decide that my use on this team is not good or they can replace it, then I'm cool, and I'll be ready for the next place.”
The Jets are 1-7 and listening to offers for a number of players. Williams’ brother Quinnen has been mentioned, too. The Jets would have to get a big haul to deal their best defensive player.
Other Jets who could be elsewhere by next week are Allen Lazard and Michael Carter II. Breece Hall has reportedly drawn interest, but the Jets are not deep in the backfield. Defensive end Jermaine Johnson has also been linked to trade rumors, but he told Newsday he received “clarity” from the front office that they plan to keep him.
Linebacker Jamien Sherwood, who signed a three-year, $45 million contract to remain with the Jets, said having Quincy back Sunday was "amazing" and he hopes they’re still teammates when the Jets play the Browns on Nov. 9.
“I'm not gonna say I don't worry, (but) it's not something that I can control,” Sherwood told Newsday. “I do enjoy playing with him. I do love him so much. He is my brother. My mom didn't birth them, but that is my brother.
“Whatever happens in the future happens. I just got to enjoy every day I can with the people that are in this building and in this room.”
Williams was leaving for Florida to spend time with family and said he was prepared for whatever happens next.
“I ain't really worried about my situation,” Williams said. “I'm healthy, so I feel good on whatever they decide to do, whether I'm here or whether I'm somewhere else.”
Sherwood on sitting
Sherwood, who didn’t play on defense until the second quarter on Sunday, said it was “coach’s decision” and he’s not going to question it.
“I would have loved to have been out on the first play, but things happen,” Sherwood, a Jets defensive captain, told Newsday. “Coach made his decisions, and you got to live by it. What are you gonna do pout, keep pouting, ‘I could have been there for the whole game.’ No, so I just got to do what I can do and go make plays.
“Things happen. Coach makes decisions, so whatever his decision is I'm just going to go with it. I love and trust my coach dearly. I know he has a vision behind everything, and I'll never question anything he says.”
Glenn said he was keeping the decision in-house.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
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