Jameson Williams, the Lions’ second-year receiver, is making noticeable progress.
The Detroit Lions are gradually increasing the frequency with which wide receiver Jameson Williams is used.
Williams, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, played in more than half of Detroit’s offensive snaps (52%) on Sunday against the Chargers for the first time in his professional career.
He also caught all of his targets for the first time as an NFL player, totaling two catches for 18 yards. He could’ve had a third reception, a 10-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter, but it was called back due to an illegal low block on Taylor Decker.
Williams’ performance on Sunday demonstrated his progress as a receiver, which the second-year pro attributes to things finally slowing down for him.
“I tried to stay on the fast track coming in, and everything didn’t go well going that way,” Williams told reporters Thursday. “But, as I understood and slowed things down and really tried to figure things out, that helped me a lot.”
In his first 11 NFL games, Williams hasn’t exactly lit up the stat sheet. In five games this season, he has nine receptions for 130 yards, including eight receptions for 89 yards.
Throughout, however, he has remained selfless in his play, as evidenced by his block on David Montgomery’s 75-yard touchdown run on Sunday.
Antwaan Randle El, the Lions’ receivers coach, believes Williams will have a breakout game soon.
“I think it’s just coming,” Randle El said earlier this week to reporters. “It’s just a matter of time because he’s improving.” He’s ecstatic about more than just catching the ball. He’s pumped about being where he’s supposed to be, when he’s supposed to be there, getting blocks for his teammates, and other such things.”
Throughout his NFL career, Williams has averaged just under 2.5 targets per game (2.4). It wasn’t what fans expected – or, more likely, what Williams did – when Detroit selected the Alabama product with a first-round pick a year ago. Despite his limited playing time, the second-year receiver has remained committed to helping the Lions win football games in any way he can.
“I don’t really focus on goals. “That’s not my thing any longer,” Williams stated. “I’m not sure what to say about the targets because I’m not focused on them.” “I’m determined to win.”
Williams, as previously stated, has yet to play in a full season due to injury and a four-game suspension to begin the 2023 season. According to fellow Detroit wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown, Williams is now a “damn-near rookie” who will only benefit from more game reps in the future.
“It’s almost like he’s still a rookie, he’s still getting the feel of the game, everything, the speed of the game, play-calling, whatever it is, the role that he has,” Williams said on Thursday. “I think the more he plays, I’m not sure if you can tell, but the more he plays, the better he gets.”
So, we want him to play his best ball at the end of the year, and I believe he is on track to do so. So we’re overjoyed to have him.
“I can’t wait to see, I know I keep saying it, but you guys see what he does out there, the downfield blocks, the touchdown he got called back, things like that, and then the long balls, they’re bound to come.” So you just have to keep putting in the effort, which he is. And, really, the sky’s the limit for him.”
