Los Angeles Chargers Wide Receiver Williams Exits With Back Injury

The Los Angeles Chargers may have suffered the most unfortunate injury of Week 18 so far. Star wide receiver Mike Williams was carted to the locker room with a back injury in the Charger's matchup against the Denver Broncos and did not return.

Mike Williams (back) is questionable to return. #LACvsDEN
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) January 8, 2023

The Chargers elected to play their starters today despite being locked into the five seed in the AFC. Williams nabbed four of his five targets for 32 yards before his exit. He'll end his regular season with 895 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 13 appearances.

The Chargers eventually took out their starters in the fourth quarter, so Williams' extended absence doesn't necessarily mean he's severely injured. Still, anything that might hamper Williams would be a disaster for a Chargers team that has a date with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wildcard Round.

Williams set career-highs in receptions (76) and receiving yards (1146) in 2021, but injuries have kept him in and out of the lineup for much of this season. His lack of consistent availability is a big reason why the Chargers have fallen from fifth in points scored last year to 13th through 16 games of this season.