This offseason has been a tough one for Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams. After a rookie campaign that was mostly lost as he recovered from a knee injury suffered in the College Football Playoff with Alabama, his second season is going to be getting off to just as rocky of a start.
Jameson Williams was hit with a six-game suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy. His sentence was only six games because he wasn’t betting on Lions or NFL games, but making of bets while on team property, which is deemed illegal by the league.
Despite the suspension, Jameson Williams has been able to participate in all activities during the offseason, including practice and preseason games. The Lions planned on getting him as many reps as he could handle, but even that plan has been derailed.
The Alabama product had to exit practice on Wednesday during a joint session with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He looked to hurt his leg while in midstride running down the field for a deep route during the 7-on-7 portion of the day.
Jameson Williams was grabbing at his right hamstring area, which certainly isn’t a good sign. Lions head coach Dan Campbell believes there is a good chance that this is the last we will see of him this offseason.
“He misses the reps. That’s a chance to get full-speed, full-tilt reps, the timing of the pass game, lining up, all of it. Moving versus press, through the zones … it’s just time on task,” Campbell said Thursday. “So, yeah, there will be a setback with it, but listen, you take it as it comes. I’m not gonna sweat it, as long as he’s willing to continue to grind on the playbook and get it right, we’ll take it as it goes.”
This could not have come at a worse time, as Jameson Williams’ suspension bars him from being at the facility. If the league upholds that ruling, he will have to seek treatment and rehab elsewhere for the injury.
It is something that the Lions are going to look into as having him at the facility rehabbing would be beneficial for everyone. With the No. 12 pick from the 2022 NFL Draft now sidelined, a veteran addition could be made.
“Yes, we do, but then it’s like, all right, to do that you have to move on from somebody, and that’s a hard move too, with other areas, other spots,” Campbell said. “But we’re thinking about it.”
Whatever the Lions opt to do, this is an unfortunate situation for Jameson Williams. The remainder of preseason was important for him to get in-game, live reps to make up for the six weeks he is going to miss to begin the regular season.
