In the Cincinnati Bengals' regular-season finale against the Baltimore Ravens on January 3, 2021, running back Trayveon Williams saw nothing but green grass in front of him.
On his first carry of the game with 3:44 remaining in the third quarter, Williams dodged blitzing Baltimore safety DeShon Elliott in the backfield, avoided the outstretched arms of Calais Campbell and was off to the races.
Williams turned on the jets, passing Ravens' All-Pro corner Marlon Humphrey for a clear path to the end zone.
But 45 yards later, Humphrey caught up, dragging Williams down for a touchdown-saving tackle after a 55-yard gain, the Bengals longest run of the season.
"It was the first time in my life I'd been caught from behind," Williams laughed. "That was definitely my 'Welcome to the NFL' moment."
Williams was rarely caught during his collegiate days at Texas A&M, where he led the SEC in rushing yards (1,760) and touchdowns (18) in 2018. He was one of two running backs taken by the Bengals in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Williams wanted to make Day 1 impact as a rookie and started strong. On his first professional drive in Week 1 of the preseason against the Chiefs, he ran for a touchdown. But a week later against Washington, he injured his foot and would play only seven offensive snaps during the regular season.
In 2020, a season-ending injury to Joe Mixon in October elevated Williams to the active roster. In 10 games, he averaged 6.0 yards per carry, finishing with 157 on 26 attempts. Now, it's about building off that momentum.
The Bengals will likely keep four running backs on the 53-man roster this season. Mixon and Samaje Perine, who re-signed in March, are obvious locks. Williams and rookie Chris Evans are the favorites to land the remaining two spots over Pooka Williams Jr. and Jacques Patrick.
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"There's been really good competition going between the guys," Williams said after Thursday's practice. "I think it's a very talented running back room. In my opinion, one of the best in the NFL. There's a lot of talent and every day we push each other to be successful and try to be great."
Williams sees what it takes when he's practicing daily with Mixon, who he views as a key mentor during his three seasons in Cincinnati.
"He (Mixon) took me under his wing and was like a brother to me immediately," Williams said. "He showed me a lot of stuff on and off the field that I can use to improve my game and help my body be better.
"He's the kind of guy who comes to work every day the same — his attitude never changes. I'm always excited to be alongside him."
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Maybe the best version of Mixon when he's not in the backfield is as a coach, something Williams believes could be in his future.
That was a precarious quandary for Williams last season when Mixon landed on injured reserve with a foot injury and missed the final 10 games. While Williams was the next man up, it was at the cost of his role-model's season. But Mixon stayed optimistic, guiding his backfield colleagues each week.
"He became a coach when he went down. He was always sharing his input in every area," Williams remembers. "He was definitely there helping me and Samaje (Perine) along the way, putting his two cents in. He was always our biggest supporter."
This summer, Williams has meshed well with someone who is actually paid to coach running backs in Justin Hill, who was hired last February.
"It's crazy because it's our first year with him (Hill) and we're all clicking like he's been here a long time," Williams said. "He just really wants the little things to happen and that's what we're about in the running backs room. He has great attention to detail and is a guy who demands greatness."
The Bengals have not ranked in the top half of the league in rushing since 2016. With Mixon back at 100 percent, depth at the position and offensive line coach Frank Pollack's new zone blocking scheme, they are bidding on the ground game's improvement in 2021.
But churning out yards in the trenches is not the only emphasis for the running backs this season. Williams knows a great way to stand out is to protect the cornerstone of the franchise.
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"Blocking is very important, especially when you're protecting Joe Burrow," Williams said. "It's what we've got to do and we take pride in it. We're focused on making sure the quarterback is OK back there."
Bengals to face Giovani Bernard
While Mixon's tutelage is still available daily, another mentor for Williams will be on the opposing sidelines when the Bengals meet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday at Raymond James Stadium. Giovani Bernard, who spent seven seasons in Cincinnati, signed a one-year deal with the Super Bowl champions in April.
"Gio, he's forever a brother and someone who I will have a relationship with for the rest of my life," Williams said. "I'm excited to see him, give him a huge and share a couple of laughs."
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