UPDATE: Dan Campbell told 97.1 The Ticket that he can’t say much on the suspension right now. But that the Lions are preparing to be without Jameson Williams.
ALLEN PARK -- Jameson Williams is facing another suspension early in his career, this time a two-game ban for a violation of the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance policy, ESPN reports.
Williams reportedly told the outlet he is disappointed with the ruling, but has “no choice but to take it on the chin” and that he’s in “good spirits just ready to get back” with his teammates.
It’s a disappointing turn of events for a number of reasons. But it comes at a time when Williams was playing the best football of his career, showing true breakout potential in Detroit’s explosive passing attack. Williams has been one of the top home-run hitters across the league, with 361 yards and three touchdowns on just 17 receptions.
He was changing the ways defenses played the Lions, due to his improved play and lightning-fast speed. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson even called it the “Jameson effect,” crediting it for opening things up everywhere else due to the attention he demands.
“They’re not as fast as him, it’s as simple as that,” Johnson said.
Williams has had a bumpy start to his career. He missed most of his rookie season due to an injury suffered while still at Alabama and then had Year 2 delayed by a gambling suspension. Once Williams was back with the team last year, it took a minute to get things going, but the electric playmaker eventually showed signs of improvement, including two scores in the NFC title game.
The 23-year-old had his quietest outing of the year over the weekend in Minnesota. Williams lost 4 yards on his lone touch, playing 43 snaps in the win. The suspension has not been announced by the league, and there aren’t any further details on how Williams violated the policy, as of this writing.
Detroit (5-1) hosts the Tennessee Titans (1-5) this weekend before facing the Green Bay Packers (5-2) on the road the following week. The Lions got fantastic production from star wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown in the win over the Vikings, while Kalif Raymond and Tim Patrick filled in the gaps with some big plays.
Williams was playing the best football of his young career. He went into the offseason as one of, if not the most improved players last season, then came back better than ever, delivering on the first-round hype.
It’s not the end of the world at only two games. But it’s a disappointing note at such a high point for Williams.
“Work, a lot of work, a lot of repetition, a lot of reps, a lot of time together, communication,” Lions quarterback Jared Goff said of his blossoming connection with Williams last week. “What does he like, what does he see, what do I see, how do I want him to do things? He’s been incredible, he really has. He’s growing a ton and continues to get better.”
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