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Williams gives Packers quality punch running the football

GREEN BAY (AP) — Whether it was running through safety Darryl Roberts to start the game or breaking Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams’ tackle attempt to score a touchdown, Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams had the best game of his career in Sunday’s victory at the Jets.

Williams carried 15 times for 95 yards and one touchdown, added six receptions for 61 yards. In total, Williams accumulated a career-best 156 yards from scrimmage to help Green Bay earn its first road win of the season, 44-38 in overtime.

“I’m just grateful. Grateful,” he said after the game. “I just feel like my hard work and everything is paying off. Just coming out in the game showing the results of all my hard work and everything I’ve been going through. I want to come out here to show my team that I’m ready and working hard every time: the week practices, everything, walk-throughs, doing whatever I can to make sure I’m ready for them in this game.”

If that hard work continues to pay off, the Packers might have a good problem next year at running back. Williams, a fourth-round pick last year, opened the season as the team’s No. 1 back, only to be supplanted at midseason by Aaron Jones, a fifth-round pick in 2017. Jones led the NFL in yards per carry before suffering a knee injury in the first quarter last week at Chicago that ended his season. With no other proven options on the roster, Williams played 86 of 91 offensive snaps against the Jets.

“I like both of those players,” interim coach Joe Philbin said on Monday. “I like the way they practice, I like the way they prepare. I think they’re good teammates. I think they’re good in the locker room and they have a good skill set. They can run (and) they can catch the ball.”

The Packers will close the season at home against Detroit Sunday. With undrafted rookie Lavon Coleman, promoted from the practice , and Kapri Bibbs, added off waivers last week, being the other options, expect Williams to be heavily involved in the game plan again.

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