On Thursday, the Buffalo Bills added quality and depth to their defensive line by signing DeShawn Williams to a one-year contract. Williams, 31, has most recently played for the Denver Broncos (2020-2022) and Carolina Panthers (2023), but his journey is one of endurance.
Here’s what fans should know about Williams, who is currently a member of the Buffalo Bills.
Shaq Lawson’s high school and college teammates:
Williams is intimately familiar with former Buffalo Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson.
Williams and Lawson attended D.W. Daniel High School. Shortly before signing with the Bills, Williams posted a photo of them after a game.
The two also played together at the university level for Clemson.
If Lawson re-signs with the Bills, the two players will be together for the third time.
Hung around the league, primarily on practice squads.
Williams joined the league as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He joined the Cincinnati Bengals and spent his rookie season on the practice squad. He appeared in four games in 2016 and has 0.5 sacks and four quarterback hits. The next season, the Bengals waived him and placed him on their practice squad.
Williams spent 2018 on the practice squads of the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and Indianapolis Colts. The Broncos signed Williams in 2019, but he was released in late August.
Williams was scheduled to play in the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders in 2020, but the season was postponed due to the epidemic. After being cut nine times in the NFL (and ten times in all) and not being able to play in the CFL, Williams’ pro career appeared to be over.
Loaded Amazon and UPS trucks before coming back into the league.
With the CFL not playing in 2020, Williams worked at a warehouse moving products into Amazon and UPS trucks.
Via Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer:
“They had me doing the heavy lifting, pallets, warehouse stuff, putting stuff on trucks, so I got to work out,” Williams said in an interview with Panthers.com. “Just not knowing when you’ll get the call. I’m at work, checking my phone. Did it vibrate? This is my call. And I’m just pressing, just pressing, trying to bring some enjoyment, but it’s beyond my power.”
Kaye mentioned that Williams would get a call from then-Denver Broncos defensive line coach Bill Kollar while working at the warehouse. The defensive tackle was invited to Broncos training camp in 2020.
Williams was placed on the Broncos’ practice squad to begin the 2020 season, but he was eventually promoted to the main roster in late September. From that point on, Williams would appear in 14 games. He finished with 37 total tackles (4 TFL), two sacks, six quarterback hits, three passes defensed, and one interception.
Williams played in 15 games the next season, totaling 39 tackles (1 TFL), one sack, five quarterback hits, and two passes defensed.
His finest season to date was in 2022, when he recorded 4.5 sacks, 8 quarterback hits, 37 total tackles (4 TFL), and three passes defensed. Williams’ defensive coordinator that season was Ejiro Evero. When Evero joined the Panthers the following season, Williams followed. Williams started 10 games last season and had 33 total tackles (2 TFL), one sack, seven quarterback hits, and one pass defensed.
After failing to acquire playing time and stay on a roster early in his career, Williams worked his way back into the league, starting 44 games in the last four years.
