Steelers notes: WR Ke’Shawn Williams preps in case of promotion off practice squad

An undrafted rookie who’s spent his pro career on the practice squad, receiver Ke’Shawn Williams is emphatic in expressing his level of preparedness in case he is summoned to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game day roster.

“Extremely ready,” Williams said after Friday’s practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “It’s a dream; it’s what I’ve worked hard for. It doesn’t matter how I got here, but it’s where I am now, so I’ll be ready for sure.”

There’s no guarantee Williams will get the “call up” for Sunday’s home game against the Cleveland Browns, but the rookie out of Indiana would make sense as a potential practice squad elevation in the wake of a shoulder injury to No. 2 wide receiver Calvin Austin III.

Williams confirmed he got some reps with the first-team offense Friday, an indication he could add to a receiving corps that is limited to DK Metcalf, Scotty Miller, Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek.

Factoring in that Williams was regularly part of the punt return lines during training camp practices at Saint Vincent, Williams is a candidate to take over those duties from Austin.

“I’m extremely prepared,” the 5-foot-9 Williams said. “I’m prepared every week like I’m about to play. I’ll sit in the meetings, I’ll take notes, I’ll understand the game plan, whatever, just in case, you never know what happens throughout a week when your name is called.”

Though he was more often a slot receiver in college at Indiana and (from 2020-23) Wake Forest, Williams played more on the outside this preseason for the Steelers. He said he runs routes out of all the WR spots during practices.

Also on the practice squad and a possibility to serve as WR5 on Sunday is Isaiah Hodgins, a veteran of five NFL seasons, 31 games and 60 catches.

Leaning left

Star Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt has surely rushed hundreds of passers over the course of a football career that includes 125 NFL games, 27 more in college and many more in high school and lower levels.

All those dozens and dozens of opposing quarterbacks, Watt said, lacked one trait exhibited by Browns starter Dillon Gabriel.

“This will be the first lefty quarterback I’ve ever played in my life,” said Watt, who typically rushes from a left-handed quarterback’s blind side. “Yeah, it’s interesting. We don’t have a (scout-team) lefty either, so it’ll be different on game day. But … he can bootleg both ways. We’ve seen it. It’ll be interesting to do. I don’t know. I’ve never (faced a lefty passer) before, but he’s very capable.”

Going batty

Another unique aspect of Gabriel — a third-round pick making his second career start — is that he’s listed at a mere 5-foot-11. That would seem to play right into the hands of a Steelers’ front seven that has a well-earned reputation for proficiency at batting down opponents’ passes.

Watt, though, points out that as a six-year college starter, Gabriel learned how to adapt to any limitations his stature presents.

“I mean, clearly the pocket gets moved and he understands how to find those passing lanes,” Watt said.

“I think that maybe we’ll have another opportunity or two, but who knows? They move the pocket well for him, they try to protect him in certain situations to get him exposed to the game before they allow him to really drop back and let it go.”