The Patriots are going into their clash with the Jets on Sunday down far more players than they were expecting, especially on the offense, as they have already ruled out receivers Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins, who they placed on injured reserve over the weekend.
That means those expected to serve in their place (Efton Chism III, DeMario Douglas, and Kyle Williams) will be under a lot of pressure to perform, with one rookie eyeing a record he could break with another impressive performance.
All eyes will be on Williams after how he's played over the last few weeks, especially since he will inevitably see much more time on the field with Boutte and Hollins sidelined. Because of what he's accomplished over the past month, he's one play away from tying a longstanding franchise record set by Randy Moss in 2009, and there's a good chance it happens against the best opponent possible this week.
Kyle Williams has a chance to solidify his Patriots future with another stellar performance this week
With another 30+-yard touchdown against the Ravens on Sunday Night Football last week, the Patriots' rookie tied WR Chris Hogan for recording three long touchdowns in a single season, becoming the first receiver to do so since that 2016 season.
But if he does it again on the road against the Jets on Sunday, he will officially tie Moss for the most 30+-yard receiving touchdowns in a single season, an impressive feat for a player who barely made any traction for half of the season.
Did You Know (via ESPN Research): WR Kyle Williams has 3 receiving TDs of 30-plus yards this season, becoming the first Patriot to total that amount since Chris Hogan in 2016.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) December 22, 2025
The last Patriots player with more was Randy Moss (4, 2009).
Considering Williams had just two receptions for 20 yards to his name through the first nine games of the season, it's quite impressive that he has become so much more involved in the offensive game plan since his breakout performance against the Bucs last month.
And now, he could become part of the record books already if he can replicate his recent touchdowns this week.
He will have plenty of opportunities to do so, as he will likely be the second receiver option behind Stefon Diggs for Drake Maye on Sunday. He hasn't been super involved with the offense in that way so far, so it will certainly be a challenge to see if he can step up to the plate.
Hopefully, he will, and he will build on his recent success to help the Patriots secure their final road win and go undefeated for just the third time in their history. It would also keep them within reach of the No. 1 seed and the AFC East title, so a lot of pressure will be on his shoulders this weekend.