Mykel Williams’ injury: What happened to Georgia DE?

Mykel Williams is in his junior season at the University of Georgia and is viewed by scouts as an elite NFL prospect. He is a major part of Kirby Smart's defense for the Bulldogs.

Williams sustained an injury in the Bulldogs' opening game against the Clemson Tigers on Saturday. Let's take a look at the severity of the injury.

What happened to Mykel Williams?

Around midway through the Bulldogs versus Tigers game, Williams encountered a low block and suffered a lower left leg injury. ESPN later announced that the issue was an ankle injury.

According to the ESPN broadcast, the star defensive end's left ankle was wrapped because of the collision. Williams initially attempted to play through the pain and stay on the Gridiron for his teammates. However, he did not return for the latter part of the match.

For the time being, Williams's withdrawal is viewed as a precautionary measure. The 2025 NFL draft prospect is a key part of Kirby Smart's team, so it is pointless risking his health on what turned out to be a blowout 34-3 victory for Georgia.

How did Mykel Williams perform in 2024?

Mykel Williams is a standout defensive player on one of the nation's best-run teams. He had an impressive 2023 college football season, appearing in 13 games (10 starts). The defensive stalwart tallied 12 tackles and an impressive 3.5 sacks on his stat sheet.

Williams' performances saw him named to the Coaches' All-SEC Second Team. He made good on his preseason Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lombardi Award Watch List selection hype.

Williams enters the 2024 college football season as a top-20 prospect on most big boards. His physical tools are impossible to ignore, coming in at 6-5 and 265 pounds. The Georgia Bulldogs fans will be hoping that his injury in the Clemson game isn't as serious as originally thought.

The Bulldogs' next game is against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles next Saturday, Sept. 7, so they won't likely need Williams's defensive chops for that one, but there are tricky games that follow in the immediate aftermath.