Chapter Two of Leonard Williams’ NFL career began Monday night against the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium, and it looked a lot like Chapter One: pretty good, but neither impactful nor very memorable.
A week ago, the fifth-year defensive lineman was acquired by the Giants from the Jets via a trade for a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and a conditional 2021 fifth-rounder that becomes a fourth-rounder if the Giants sign him prior to free agency.
And, in Monday night’s 37-18 Giants loss to the Cowboys, Williams played well for a player who’s been with a team for a week, finishing with three tackles, a quarterback hit, a couple of pressures.
The Giants were hoping for an immediate impact from Williams, who was more of a consistent, high-effort player than a game-changer in his four-plus seasons with the Jets.
What they got was much the same the Jets got for four-plus seasons — steady, hustle plays and several moments when he almost got to Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, the key word being “almost.’’
But no sacks. No game-changing plays.
“I still need to pick up the defense a little bit faster so I’m not hesitant so I can play a little bit faster and not relying on my teammates to tell me a play here and there when I forget,’’ he said. “It comes with time.” I just got on the team, so I’ve been trying to learn my teammates and learn the plays as soon as possible.’’
Williams’ first play of note as a Giant was actually a late hit on Prescott on Dallas’ second offensive possession, but his penalty was negated by a holding penalty on Dallas tackle Tyron Smith. The offsetting penalties also negated a 17-yard touchdown pass from Prescott to Amari Cooper, a big break for the Giants.
On the next two plays, Williams pressured Prescott on consecutive incomplete pass attempts to running back Tony Pollard, leaving Dallas to settle for a field goal and a 3-3 tie at the time.
Williams had one of his patented “almost’’ plays on a 42-yard Prescott scoring pass to tight end Blake Jarwin with 52 seconds remaining in the first half, a play that cut the Giants lead to 12-10.
Williams, with pressure up the middle, nearly got to Prescott before he released the ball. It was a familiar sight to Jets fans, who yearned for more sacks from the sixth-overall pick in the 2015 draft, but never got enough of them (17 in 71 games, two in his past 18).
“When I bull-rushed the guard and got right on his lap, I tried to reach around him and grab the back of [Prescott’s] shoulder pads,’’ Williams said. “But he just stepped away that one split second and he was able to get away from me.’’
The play was rather emblematic of his career.
Next up for Williams and the Giants is a game against the Jets on Sunday.
“I think next week will be a little odder,’’ Williams said. “The two teams don’t play each other very often in the regular season, so it’s ironic that the one time they do make a trade together we play them in the same year after the trade. I think I’ll be more comfortable with my teammates and more comfortable with the defense and able to play faster next week.’’
Asked if he watched the Jets’ loss to the previously winless Dolphins Sunday, he said, “I watched some of the highlights of the game. That was a tough loss, the Dolphins’ first win. But that’s not mine anymore. This is my team now, and I’m focused on watching film and getting better and next week.”
