Chargers release WR Williams, save $20M on cap

The Los Angeles Chargers released wide receiver Mike Williams, the team announced Wednesday.

The move saves the Chargers $20 million this year while incurring a dead money charge of $12.46 million. League rules require the Chargers to be under the league’s $255.4 million salary cap by 4 p.m. ET Wednesday. Williams’ release makes them salary cap compliant.

Pass-rusher Khalil Mack, meanwhile, will remain with the Chargers next season after agreeing to restructure his deal to save salary cap space, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday.

The Chargers selected Williams with the No. 7 pick in the 2017 NFL draft. In seven seasons, Williams, known for his contested catch ability, formed one of the league’s best receiver tandems with Keenan Allen. The Chargers rewarded him with a three-year, $60 million contract in 2022.

But the past two seasons for Williams have been marred by injuries. Williams fractured his back on a hit in the final minutes of the Chargers’ regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos in the 2022 season, forcing him to miss the wild-card playoff loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

When Williams returned for the 2023 season, he looked like the player the Chargers had invested in, and in Week 3, he appeared to be on his way to a career day, with 121 yards and a touchdown through the third quarter. But with two minutes remaining, Williams made a juke on his left knee that resulted in a torn ACL. He missed the remainder of the season.

Williams, 29, has 309 receptions for 4,806 yards and 31 touchdowns in his career.

Mack, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, had a career-high 17 sacks last season and has 101.5 in his career.

The Chargers traded for Mack two seasons ago, sending a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 sixth-round pick to the Chicago Bears. Mack’s 25 sacks over his two seasons in Los Angeles are ninth in the NFL over that span.

In his first training camp news conference, Mack declared his hopes for winning a Super Bowl, telling reporters, “That’s the only thing on my mind at this point in my career.”

Mack, 33, will now look to reach that goal under new Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh next season.