Jameson Williams‘ breakout season could also be coming to a temporary pause. Based on ESPN’s Eric Woodyard (and via ESPN’s Adam Schefter), the Lions wide receiver is facing a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s Performance-Enhancing Substances (PES) policy.
Williams spoke to Woodyard, stating that he’s dissatisfied with the event and has “no selection but to take it on the chin.”
“I’m in good spirits,” Williams told Woodyard. “[I’m] just able to get back with the my brothers ASAP soon as possible.”
This can be a tough blow for each Williams and the Lions, as the previous first-round pick was putting together the strongest season of his profession. In six games (4 starts), Williams has already established career-highs in receiving yards (361) and touchdowns (three). His 60.2 yards-per-game mark was greater than double his 2023 average, and it barely trailed Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s team-leading 66.8 yards per game.
The Twelfth-overall pick within the 2022 draft, Williams didn’t make his debut until that December while recovering from a torn ACL suffered in college. After ending his rookie campaign with a single catch (a 41-yard touchdown, no less), Williams got a full offseason ahead of the 2023 campaign. Nonetheless, the beginning of his sophomore season was still delayed because of a suspension for violating the NFL’s gambling policy. When he returned, he was firmly behind St. Brown and Josh Reynolds on the depth chart.
With Reynolds not around in 2024, Williams has stepped up because the team’s WR2. In an offense loaded with talent, Williams has still managed to garner the second-most targets (30) on the squad. Fortunately for the Lions, they must be greater than able to overcoming Williams’ impending suspension. Tim Patrick and/or Kalif Raymond could step up at WR, and tight end Sam LaPorta could see an uptick in targets following a disappointing begin to his sophomore campaign.