Rumors linking Trent Williams to the Patriots have died (maybe)

Despite conflicting claims coming out of Washington about the disgruntled left tackle, it appears Trent Williams won’t be joining the Patriots anytime soon.

Never say never, but it looks like the rumor mill linking Washington Redskins left tackle Trent Williams and the New England Patriots has suddenly come crashing to a halt.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing though; that is, if you’re a fan of the Patriots or the Redskins. If you’re just a fan of Williams as a player, then yes, you have a right to be disappointed that it looks like he won’t be joining the reigning Super Bowl champions anytime soon.

Per SB Nation’s Bill-in-Bangkok, respected NFL insiders Adam Schefter of ESPN and Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports had competing claims late Monday night as to Williams’ future in the nation’s capital.

Schefter first tweeted out sources saying that the Redskins have rebuffed any and all teams inquiring about Williams’ availability, insisting that they plan to keep their left tackle even as he continues to hold out from camp and the preseason. La Canfora then disputed that notion point-blank, tweeting that “Trent Willliams will be traded. Only a matter of time.”

NBC Sports’ JP Finlay then joined the fray early Tuesday morning with this tweet, which you’ll note directly names the Patriots as a potential suitor:

Almost exactly 24 hours later though, another ESPN NFL insider, Field Yates, felt the need to contradict Finlay’s Pats connection with this tweet:

What in tarnation is going on??

Obviously only the Redskins know what exactly is going on behind the scenes with their plans for Williams. Williams himself probably doesn’t know much more than the rest of us do at this point.

Whether or not an eventual divorce is on the horizon between star player and team is uncertain, given all these paradoxical reports and rumors. But that being said, it’s probably safe to assume that any of those same rumblings connecting Williams with the Pats might be outdated at this point.

The clearest evidence supporting that notion is coming straight from New England – the team, not the geographical location, that is.

Left tackle Isaiah Wynn continues to be a focal point of media coverage surrounding the Patriots’ practices with the Titans this week and the Lions last week, and that coverage is ever more optimistic and positive with each passing day that Wynn’s workload increases. The second-year player missed his entire rookie season with a torn Achilles, but he’s on track to start Week 1 for the Pats provided he he continues a strong preseason/camp and doesn’t encounter any health setbacks.

Even if Wynn doesn’t wrap up the job full-time by September, New England has options beyond him that are already in-house. Dan Skipper has had a nice preseason thus far for the team, and he’s rotated in with Wynn for numerous drills and reps. Joe Thuney has also taken snaps at left tackle with the first-string offense, though he’s currently projected to start at left guard, where he’s played every NFL season so far with the Patriots.

Should an unexpected injury occur with one or more of those players, then perhaps it’d make sense for New England to reignite trade talks with Washington.

But as things stand currently, the Patriots have to be feeling pretty content and confident with the options available to them based off everything they’ve seen in these summer months. Until and unless that changes, we probably won’t see Williams in red, white, blue, and silver anytime soon.