CLEVELAND — While he may be listed as a backup on his team's depth chart, Greedy Williams won't have to wait long for his first official NFL action.
With just a little more than an hour to go before kickoff, the Cleveland Browns confirmed that the rookie cornerback will start in their season opener vs. the Tennessee Titans. Kickoff at FirstEnergy Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
Selected out of LSU in the second round (46th overall), Williams was Cleveland's highest selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. In two seasons at LSU, he twice earned All-SEC honors, in addition to being named a consensus All-American in 2018.
As a redshirt freshman in 2017, the Shreveport, Louisiana, native tallied 38 tackles, 6 interceptions and 10 pass defenses. He followed that with a sophomore campaign in which he recorded 33 tackles, 2 interceptions and 9 pass defenses.
Although he was listed behind veteran Terrance Mitchell on the Browns' unofficial Week 1 depth chart, Williams always figured to factor prominently in Cleveland's defensive plans as a rookie. In four preseason games, the 21-year-old totaled 5 tackles, 1 interception and 1 pass defense.
In joining Cleveland's starting line up on Sunday, Williams will start opposite cornerback Denzel Ward, who earned Pro Bowl honors as a rookie for the Browns in 2018. Tennessee lists Adam Humphries and Tajae Sharpe as its starting wide receivers, although rookie A.J. Brown could also make an impact in the team's passing game.
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