After a torn ACL ended his 2019 season before he could even get started, Avery Williamson has something to prove. Back from the injury that he suffered in an Aug. 15, 2019 preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons, Williamson offered a clear update on his status Sunday.

"It felt really good," Williamson said. "No pain, wasn't even really worried about my knee. It was just like I was trying to make sure I do everything right, but I feel healthy, man. So that's the main thing. I felt really good."

Williamson, 28, played in all but one of his first 79 games (75 starts) with the Tennessee Titans (2014-17) and Jets (2018). Coming back from a major injury for the first time in his NFL career, he has learned a lot over the past year.

"You've just got to get practice," Williamson said. "You're going to find out real quick how good it's doing and didn't feel any pain today, pretty much did everything from a perspective of past and it's feeling great. So just going out and keep getting in shape, at this point, but my knee's healthy."

Williamson said he felt that his knee turned the corner in May. Still, a daunting rehabilitation process allowed doubt to creep in at times.

"Man, it's been a long journey, definitely," Williamson said. "From that point, just didn't know, didn't realize the amount of work I was going to have to put in to get back to this point, to get back to my old self. I thought it was going to be a lot faster. I thought I was going to be running by December, but everybody's different and I just wasn't healing as fast as I thought I would.

"So it's just a lot of times I had to stay mentally strong and just make sure I was staying on top of my treatment and not taking any breaks. So yeah, it's definitely been a challenge and especially during the (coronavirus) pandemic. I was by myself pretty much the whole time in Birmingham, so it's been tough. At the end of the day, it's definitely making it work."

The Jets signed Williamson to a three-year contract for $22.5 million ($16 million guaranteed) on March 18, 2018. Despite a strong first season with the Jets in 2018, totaling 120 tackles (six for loss), three sacks (four quarterback hits), one interception (six pass breakups) and two forced fumbles (one recovery), Williamson has a sense of urgency to bounce back when the 2020 season kicks off.

"Yeah, I definitely feel like I've got to prove myself -- that's every year," Williamson said. "It's always going to be competition, guys trying to take your spot. So ... the guys last year, they played well. Give them credit. They definitely played well. So I've just got to make sure I know the playbook, early, make sure that when I get my opportunity, I'm going to make it count."

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