The Seattle Seahawks need a new starting center, as Connor Williams has shockingly retired from the NFL mid-season. Williams overcame a severe knee injury after playing for the Miami Dolphins in 2023 and joined the Seahawks in Aug.
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Williams has played for some of the best teams in the NFL, dating back to his first team in the Dallas Cowboys. He joined the Cowboys in 2018, as the team selected him No. 50 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Texas.
Williams jumped around the offensive line, initially starting at left guard for the team. He would be benched after eight weeks, but found his way to becoming the starting left guard when Zach Martin was injured.
Following Williams' rookie season, he would suffer a season-ending ACL tear in Week 13 of the 2019 season. Williams was able to fully recover by 2020, and started at left guard for all 16 games with the Cowboys.
Williams experienced an incredible 2021, surrendering only one sack the entire season. He would then find his way to the Miami Dolphins in 2022.
Williams signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Dolphins. After auditioning at center, the Dolphins named Williams the starter for the 2022 season. He would be the only player to play all 100 percent offensive snaps for the season, which equaled 1,057 snaps.
Through the 2022 season, Williams allowed three sacks and committed six penalties. Following his impressive performance, Williams sat out of mandatory minicamp to secure a new contract extension. That would not be the case, and the star center would eventually report and play in the 2023 season.
In a contract year, Williams suffered a groin injury, leading to the Dolphins using Liam Eichenberg as center. Williams would then suffer the second ACL tear of his career, which occurred during Week 14 of the 2023 season.
Williams was intent on making his way back to playing, which he did when he signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Seahawks. Now, he has officially retired from the NFL, leaving Seattle in a precarious situation.
Olu Oluwatimi is set to be the team's new starting center. Oluwatimi has some big shoes to fill, as Williams has been one of the best centers in the NFL, along with being one of the best offensive linemen.
The Seahawks will need to hope that Oluwatimi can step up now that Williams is no longer playing in the NFL. Seattle is currently 4-5 on the season, and are losing their grip on potentially securing a postseason berth.
For more on the Seahawks, head to Newsweek Sports.
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