Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions had high hopes for wide receiver Jameson Williams when they took him with the 12th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, but Williams has not really gotten a chance to live up to those expectations just yet.
Williams missed most of his rookie campaign due to the torn ACL he suffered while playing at Alabama in 2021, appearing in just six games and logging one 41-yard touchdown catch and a 40-yard touchdown run.
Then, this past season, Williams was suspended for four games for violating the NFL’s gambling policy. He would ultimately participate in 12 contests, catching 24 passes for 354 yards and a couple of scores while also punching in another rushing touchdown.
Campbell is anticipating bigger things from Williams next season, especially with fellow wide out Josh Reynolds possibly walking via free agency in the coming weeks.
“By the end of the year, we really felt like he started to come into his own,” Campbell said, via the Lions’ official YouTube account. “He’s going to be push to be a full-time starter now, and that’s what we’re looking for.”
Williams certainly turned it on late in the season, as he logged 11 catches for 159 over his final three regular-season games. He then scored a couple of touchdowns in the NFC Championship Game, one coming through the air and the other of the ground variety.
“The kid’s come on, so we’ve got high hopes for him,” Dan Campbell added. “We see him continuing to grow. As long as he gets back and puts the work in like we believe he will because he’s shown that, he’s only going to get better and better and better.”
Obviously, Amon-Ra St. Brown is Detroit’s No. 1 receiver, but Reynolds filled the No. 2 role in 2023. With Reynolds potentially departing, Williams will have no choice but to step up next season.
We’ll see if Jameson Williams is up to the challenge.
The Lions just had one of their best seasons in franchise history, winning the NFC North division title and coming within one win of a Super Bowl appearance.
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
