Mike Williams is ready to take on a full Jets workload

Mike Williams’ slow integration into the Jets’ offense should ironically provide optimism. 

The unit already has shown how dramatically it has improved with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.

And that has been with Williams, whom they signed to a one-year contract worth $10 million this past offseason, barely a factor. 

He has seen limited action to start the season as part of the Jets’ plan for his rehab from a torn left ACL he suffered while with the Chargers Week 3 last year.

But once he’s a full-go, Williams can help elevate this offense to another level. 

And that appears to be imminent. 

“He’s definitely part of the rotation,” head coach Robert Saleh said before practice on Friday. “I don’t want to say there’s a pitch count on him anymore. With the way we’re in a flow with our personnel groupings and getting guys in and out of the huddle, he’ll continue to get a bigger and bigger role as he gets comfortable with the offense and the quarterback.” 

For his own part, Williams feels ready for a full workload right now.

He’s felt that way for a while, actually — since he joined team drills ahead of Week 1, was knocked to the ground and was able to get back up to his feet without issue. 

But he knows the gradual approach is for his own good. 

“I was ready for whatever since I suited up [in pads] for real,” Williams told The Post after practice on Friday. “It’s a long season, that’s what coach said, so just trusting the process and be ready when I go out there. 

“I’m feeling good. I’m able to go out there and do what I can do, make some plays. Run, jump, whatever. Yeah, I’m good.” 

Williams, 29, played just 18 percent of snaps during the Jets’ Week 1 loss to the 49ers. He had just become a full participant in practice the week before. 

By the Week 2 win over the Titans, Williams played 65 percent of snaps on offense, but that fell to 45 percent for the Week 3 win over the Patriots.

He has caught four passes for 53 yards across the three games. 

The Jets signed Williams to be their No. 2 receiver behind Garrett Wilson, something they had woefully lacked the previous two seasons.

The Jets signed Allen Lazard last year to a five-year, $44 million deal to fill that role, but he struggled through a disastrous first season with the team. 

With his former Packers teammate Rodgers at quarterback, though, Lazard has enjoyed a bounce-back season — he has 11 catches for 148 yards and three touchdowns this year.

As Williams continues to get his legs underneath him, Lazard is emerging as the team’s true No. 2 receiver in his place. 

At 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds, though, Williams’ contested-catch ability — particularly downfield and in the red zone — could provide a valuable new element to the Jets’ offense. 

“Just another offensive threat,” Williams said. “We’ve got a lot of offensive weapons, so I just add another threat. A guy that can spread the offense out, take the top off the defense and be a dominant player.” 

Beyond building himself back up physically, there is also the mental aspect. 

Williams was only able to practice off to the side by himself for the vast majority of training camp, lacking the reps that his teammates got to learn the offense and playbook. 

“You lose a lot,” Saleh said. “You think about what his first practices were. They were really just kind of getting him reps. It really didn’t start happening until after the Giants [preseason] game. He’s lost three months of OTA’s. He lost all of training camp, but at the same time I will give him credit. Going to every meeting, being a part of every walkthrough and being a part of every single conversation. So at least he doesn’t have to go through that to get caught up. 

“It’s more just getting full speed reps, routes on air, and understanding what the quarterback likes to do based on certain looks, based on leverages and all that stuff and where the quarterback is going to put the ball. So it’s just a matter of getting reps right now.”