Trent Williams’ final year with the Washington Redskins was tumultuous. Williams held out, skipping OTAs, training camp, preseason and the first nine weeks of the 2019 regular season. He decided to report to the team Oct. 29 ahead of the deadline for him earn a accrued season.
Williams told Ian Rapoport on the RapSheet and Friends podcast he was prepared to play before a failed physical landed him on the non-football injury list.
“The competitive juices started to flow, so I was really prepared to make my return last year. I know all of the things that had went on and just being in that facility, being around teammates, being around the guys you fought with and bled with for some many years. It was almost impossible for me to fight the urge not to just want to get back on the field. I was literally waiting on my new helmet to come in. I was getting ready to kind of gear up and it was going to be somewhat of a surprise to some, but I think for the people who know me best they know how competitive I am.”
Trent Williams
Williams’ holdout initially stemmed from the Redskins medical staff’s handling of a cancerous growth on his head. He endured multiple surgeries to remove the growth.
Williams reported to the team ahead of Week 10, but felt discomfort with his helmet, causing a failed physical. He told Rapoport while he was waiting for a new helmet, the Redskins placed him on the NFI, ending his season.
“I was under the impression my new helmet was coming in that Tuesday, and then I was put on the NFI that Saturday, I believe, or Friday, I don’t remember. I was put on NFI right before I could even get the helmet to get back out there. It was a bummer but figured it was just how it was supposed to work out.”
Trent Williams
The Redskins elected not to pay Williams the remaining $6 million he was owed for the season. Williams was prompted to say bridges were “burned” with the team.
This offseason, the Redskins fired longtime team president Bruce Allen and head trainer Larry Hess. New head coach Ron Rivera attempted to resolve matters with Williams. However, a meeting with Rivera turned Williams off and he requested to be traded.
The Redskins traded Williams to the San Francisco 49ers during this year’s NFL Draft for a 2020 fifth-round pick and 2021 third-round pick.
