The Los Angeles Rams have waived wide receiver Mario Williams with an injury designation. The decision marks the second time in as many years that the undrafted free agent has been released by the team under similar circumstances.
Williams, a 5-foot-9, 178-pound receiver out of Tulane, suffered a hamstring injury during the Rams’ preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Head coach Sean McVay indicated the injury would sideline him for a few weeks. With the team needing to free up a roster spot, Williams was waived injured, allowing him to potentially clear waivers and revert to injured reserve if unclaimed.
This is familiar territory for the 23-year-old. Williams signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft after a standout transfer season at Tulane.
In 2024, he led the Green Wave with 60 receptions for 1,031 yards and six touchdowns over 14 games, earning second-team All-AAC honors. He became just the eighth different Tulane receiver to post a 1,000-yard season.
Prior stops at Oklahoma and USC had shown flashes, but the 2024 campaign solidified his status as a productive college playmaker.
In the 2025 preseason, Williams flashed potential, catching two passes for 46 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers while contributing on returns.
However, an injury led to him being waived with an injury designation that August. He settled his contract, missed the entire season, and returned on a reserve/future deal in January 2026 for another opportunity.
Williams had shown promise in the early stages of the 2026 training camp, making plays that drew positive notice from coaches and observers. Yet the hamstring setback derailed his push for a roster spot amid a competitive receiver group featuring established talent.
The move brings Bachman, a 26-year-old who began his career with the Rams as an undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest in 2019, back into the fold. Bachman has bounced around the league, most recently with the Raiders, and offers special teams experience and depth.
For Williams, the waiver opens the door to explore opportunities elsewhere or potentially return to Los Angeles later.
At this stage of the preseason, undrafted receivers often face long odds, but his college production and prior preseason highlights demonstrate the skill set that earned him repeated chances with the Rams.
Whether he lands elsewhere or works his way back, the latest chapter underscores the precarious nature of NFL roster battles for young talent.
