Jameson Williams, embattled Detroit Lions WR, officially suspended 2 games by NFL
If the Detroit Lions are going to extend their winning streak into November, they'll have to do so without the services of Jameson Williams.
The NFL made Williams' suspension official Thursday afternoon, banning him two games for violating the league's policy on performance enhancing substances. He will miss Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans and the Lions' Nov. 3 clash at the Green Bay Packers.
Williams ranks second on the Lions with 361 yards receiving on 17 catches, and second in the NFL with a 21.2-yard-per-catch average. He has been a key offensive weapon for a Lions team that has won four straight games to vault into a tie for first in the NFC North, but also is dealing with the loss of top pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson.
Williams released a statement on the matter through his agent.
From Jameson’s agent https://t.co/HPgwYWx71N
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) October 24, 2024
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Who replaces Jameson Williams?
The Lions' other receivers are Amon-Ra St. Brown, Tim Patrick and Kalif Raymond.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday in his weekly radio interview on WXYT-FM the team was preparing for Williams' absence.
"We’ll be fine," Campbell said, before ticking off a list of other offensive skill players the Lions will rely on in Williams' absence. "That’s why we’ve got Leaf and Saint and (Sam) LaPorta and T.P. and Allen Robinson, among other things with David Montgomery, (Jahmyr) Gibbs. So we’ll be fine, we’ll move on when this thing comes down, if it does, when it comes down. We’ll be fine."
St. Brown leads the Lions (5-1) with 39 catches for 401 yards and Patrick, Raymond and Robinson likely will move up the receiver pecking order in Williams' absence.
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LaPorta, off to a slow start (14 catches, 224 yards) after an 86-catch rookie season, could factor more prominently into the offense, and the Lions have one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL led by Montgomery and Gibbs.
What Lions will miss with Jameson Williams suspended
Nobody on the roster has the speed to match Williams' ability stretching the defense.
A first-round pick, No. 12 overall, out of Alabama in 2022 after the Lions traded up 20 spots, Williams has had a volatile start to his NFL career.
He missed 11 games as a rookie because of the torn ACL he suffered in his final college game, and was suspended six games (later reduced to four) to start the 2023 season for violating the NFL's gambling policy.
Williams seemed to turn a corner this season, when he was roundly praised by coaches and teammates for showing more maturity on and off the field. Campbell has praised Williams' contributions as a blocker and what that means to the Lions' run game, and quarterback Jared Goff said last week Williams worked hard to became a more integral part of the offense this year.
"A lot of work, a lot of repetition, a lot of reps, a lot of time together, communication," Goff said. "He’s growing a ton and continues to get better.”
Williams is eligible to return to the Lions on Nov. 4 and play in that week's Sunday night game against the AFC-South leading Houston Texans.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jameson Williams suspension: NFL officially hands Lions WR 2 games
