Browns CB Williams now getting his shot

Greedy Williams has been selfless. After Williams sat out all last season with nerve damage in a shoulder, the Browns drafted fellow cornerback Greg Newsome II 26th overall in April.

Williams welcomed Newsome and embraced him as a teammate. They competed for the starting job opposite Denzel Ward in training camp, but Williams suffered a groin injury Aug. 22 in a preseason game against the New York Giants.

Falling to Newsome meant Williams would be relied on to make his greatest contributions as a special teams player. Williams didn’t complain.

“He came into the year with a positive attitude,” special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said Thursday. “He knew that we drafted a young man who could beat him out. He competed against him, got hurt and then once he became healthy again, he looked at me and said, ‘Coach, whatever you need me to do, I’ll do.’ ”

The Browns (2-1) will need Williams to do more Sunday when they visit the Minnesota Vikings (1-2). Williams will start for the first time since Dec. 29, 2019, because Newsome suffered a calf injury this past weekend in a 26-6 win over the Chicago Bears and has been ruled out.

The Vikings are ranked third in the NFL in yards per game (425), eighth in points per game (29), sixth in rushing (128 yards a game) and seventh in passing (297 yards a game).

“They do a great job of getting guys open, and [quarterback Kirk Cousins is] finding those spots,” Williams said. “But our job is to make it hard for him. With the defense we’ve got, I don’t think you really see what we’ve got coming.”

“I feel like I’m 100% ready to go,” he added.

AP Browns cornerback Greedy Williams, here defending Giants receiver David Sills, has played just 16 snaps on defense this season but will start Sunday.