The Detroit Lions take on the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the highly anticipated NFL regular season kickoff. The Lions boast some of the best young talent in the league, with WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, and TE Sam LaPorta.
Unfortunately, the Lions have been without suspended receiver Jameson Williams for the first four weeks of the season. Williams spent most of his rookie season on the sideline, rehabbing from a leg injury that took him out of the 2022 College Football National Championship.
Entering the season, many NFL fans and fantasy football managers were excited to see what Williams would look like in this new-look Lions offense. Unfortunately, we had to wait four weeks to see the speedster on the NFL gridiron.
Why Did Jameson Williams Miss Four Weeks?
Williams was among several players suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s gambling policy. He initially claimed he was ‘blindsided’ by the NFL’s ruling but chose not to appeal the league’s decision. He didn’t bet on NFL games, but the NFL flagged him for mobile betting.
MORE: NFL Offense Rankings 2023
Williams was initially suspended for six games, but the suspension ended after just four when the NFL and NFLPA agreed on a change in the way punishments are handled in the NFL Gambling Policy.
What Type of Player Is Williams?
Williams brings speed to the Lions’ offense, something they desperately need. The Lions traded up to the 12th selection in the 2022 NFL Draft to select Williams for his ability to take the top off of a defense.
With the No. 12 overall pick in the 2022 @NFLDraft, the @Lions select Jameson Williams!@NewEraCap | #OnePride
📺: 2022 #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/plzGEYbG3p
— NFL (@NFL) April 29, 2022
Speed and field-stretching are in short supply in the NFL, and front offices covet speed. Williams will fit in well with Amon-Ra St. Brown, an intermediate-area receiver who thrives in route running but lacks long speed.
The Lions added additional speed to the skill positions during the 2023 NFL Draft. The Lions selected RB Jahmyr Gibbs out of Alabama to add speed out of the backfield, and from early reports, Gibbs will be used as a runner and receiver out of the backfield. The Lions also drafted Sam LaPorta in the second round to replace T.J. Hockenson.
PFN’s NFL Draft Analyst Ian Cummings highlighted some of Williams’ biggest attributes ahead of the NFL Draft in his scouting report.
“As a deep threat, Williams is undoubtedly the best in his class. He has elite explosiveness and speed, and his long strides in open space are near impossible to keep up with. Although he wasn’t able to run, Williams has legitimate 4.3 speed. He can create distance between himself and defenders instantly, and he destroys open-field tackling angles with his acceleration.
Beyond his speed and explosiveness, however, Williams has the makings of a complete NFL wide receiver. He has loose, flexible hips that can sink with ease on route-running reps. He’s an incredibly twitchy player who can generate displacement off quick, subtle movements. And at the catch point, Williams has great hands, focus, and instincts, and he flashes high-level body control.”