It’s been a revolving door at kick returner for the New England Patriots this season. Six different players have returned kicks thus far, and three of them have been rookies in their first NFL season.
One of those rookies — wide receiver Kyle Williams — was the most recent Patriot to line up to return kicks, and it’s been a promising start to his new positional journey.
Have The Patriots Found Their New Kick Returner?
“My first one was a little nerve-wracking, because I really haven’t been back there,” Williams said, via MassLive’s Karen Guregian. “But once you get used to it, it becomes backyard football at that point.”
The Washington State product took three kickoffs back against the Cincinnati Bengals for a total of 86 yards, a solid number for a player who wasn’t one of the initial Patriots to return kicks to begin the year.
The year started with running back Antonio Gibson as the top guy. The veteran took one kick to the house in Week 2 and looked like a brand new weapon for New England, before he tore his ACL on a kickoff just three weeks later.
Since then, Efton Chism III (361 yards), TreVeyon Henderson (209), Rhamondre Stevenson (40) and Terrell Jennings (20) have each returned kicks. It appears that Williams is likely the guy to stick.
“I love the way he played,” Springer said. “He’s a speed guy, and on top of that, in this new dynamic with kickoffs, you can’t really have any fear back there. You’ve gotta go. And I felt like he did that, especially on the last kickoff return where he almost had a touchdown.
Sep 21, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams (18) completes a pass during the third quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images | Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
“Now It’s My Turn To Take It And Run With It”
“He really had a good mentality throughout the game. He was confident catching it.”
With the Giants next on the docket for New England, and the team’s second game under the home lights in three weeks, it’s a perfect opportunity for Williams to score his second career touchdown — and first in front of the home crowd. He had a long touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the passing game in Week 11, but now he’s got an opportunity to become the third Patriots player to score on special teams this year.
“I told coach Springer all I needed was one back there. And he finally gave me that chance,” Williams said. “Now, it’s my turn to take it and run with it … and for me, the slightest crease means hit it at 100 miles an hour.”
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