Jameson Williams Injury News & Updates
Keep up with the latest injuries from the Giants vs Lions game on Sunday with our National Football League injury report.Nov 17, 2025
Keeps momentum going
Williams recorded four receptions on seven targets for 88 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 16-9 loss to the Eagles. He added one rush for nine yards.
ANALYSIS
Williams accounted for Detroit's only touchdown of the game with a 40-yard score, with most of the yardage coming after the catch. It was a poor offensive night from the Lions, but Williams also chipped in long gains of 27 and 19 yards to provide at least some positivity. This was his third-highest yardage total of the season, and he now has 10 catches for 207 yards and two touchdowns combined across the two games since head coach Dan Campbell took over offensive playcalling.
Nov 9, 2025
Steps up against commanders
Williams recorded six receptions on seven targets for 119 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's 44-22 win over the Commanders.
ANALYSIS
Williams has had frustratingly low production for most of the season, though he managed to top 100 receiving yards for the second time while also finding the end zone for the second consecutive contest. His longest gain of the day came midway through the third quarter when he broke free over the middle of the field and sprinted down the sideline for 41 yards. Williams also tallied a 22-yard reception in addition to his 14-yard touchdown. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Dan Campbell took over play-calling duties for the game, which could bode well for Williams if Campbell retains the duties moving forward.
Nov 2, 2025
Bonces back from blanking
Williams brought in four of six targets for 66 yards and a touchdown in the Lions' 27-24 loss to the Vikings on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
Williams had been surprisingly shut out altogether during the Lions' Week 7 win over the Buccaneers, but after some bye-week chatter from the coaching staff about making it a priority to get him the ball, the fleet-footed wideout delivered a solid performance. Williams' yardage total tied for his second highest of the campaign, and his 37-yard touchdown down the left sideline that he finished with a full extension was his third of the season. Williams will have a positive outlook going into a Week 10 road matchup against the Commanders, who'll enter their Week 9 Sunday night matchup against the Seahawks allowing an NFL-high 12.0 yards per completion.
Oct 20, 2025
Held catchless Monday
Williams failed to bring in either of his two targets in Monday's 24-9 win over Tampa Bay.
ANALYSIS
The usually sure-handed Williams failed to haul in either of his targets on a low-volume passing night dominated by Detroit's run game. The 24-year-old has been a hit-or-miss fantasy asset through seven weeks, doing most of his damage in two big-scoring games. Williams couldn't improve on his 17-289-2 receiving line Monday as the Lions prepare to enter a bye week. The Alabama product should continue to be treated as a risky high-upside play against the Vikings in Week 9.
Oct 13, 2025
Has breakout performance
Williams recorded six receptions on seven targets for 66 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 30-17 loss to the Chiefs.
ANALYSIS
Williams finally put together a strong showing, leading the Lions in receiving yards while finding the end zone for the first time since Week 2. His touchdown catch was his longest of the day, as he caught a pass deep across the middle of the field before crashing through several defenders for a 22-yard score. Williams also tallied a pair of 15-yard gains to help him surpass 50 receiving yards in a game for only the second time this season.
Oct 6, 2025
Minimal involvement in Week 5
Williams recorded one reception on one target for nine yards in Sunday's 37-24 win over the Bengals. He added one rush for one yard.
ANALYSIS
Williams was coming off an eight-target performance in Week 4, but he had very limited involvement in Sunday's blowout victory. Both of his touches came on Detrout's first two drives of the game. While Jared Goff only took to the air 23 times to limit opportunities across the board, Williams has five or fewer targets in all but one game so far this season.
Sep 28, 2025
Quiet again
Williams recorded two receptions on eight targets for 40 yards in Sunday's 34-10 win over the Browns. He added one rush for minus-three yards.
ANALYSIS
Williams has had a slow start to the season, with Sunday's performance marking the third time in four games that he's logged fewer than 45 receiving yards. This showing was particularly troubling because he led the team in targets, and the Lions seemingly made it a goal to get him going. Per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic, Jared Goff took some of the blame for the several miscues when targeting Williams, saying he made poor reads, though Williams also dropped several passes.
Sep 23, 2025
Gains 43 yards on MNF
Williams had two receptions on three targets for 43 yards in Monday's 38-30 win over the Ravens.
ANALYSIS
Williams garnered a season low three targets in a contest where the passing offense took a back seat to monster rushing performances from Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. The 24-year-old Williams managed to break off a couple of chunk plays on his two grabs, but the end result was mediocre from a fantasy perspective without a trip to the end zone. Williams is averaging a massive 21.8 yards per reception this season, so there is upside available for those who can stomach the lows that come with a boom-or-bust asset. The Lions will prepare to host a tough Cleveland defense Sunday.
Sep 14, 2025
Scores long TD in win
Williams brought in two of four targets for 108 yards and a touchdown in the Lions' 52-21 win over the Bears on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
Williams was on his way to a second consecutive lackluster game to open the season before he turned on the jets for a 44-yard touchdown reception just past the halfway point of the third quarter. Williams saw his Week 1 catch total cut in half, but his yardage saw an 85-yard boost and afford him his first 100-yard effort since Week 16 of last season. Williams will try to break through against the Ravens secondary in a Week 3 road matchup in Baltimore on Monday night, Sept. 22.
Sep 7, 2025
Underwhelms in Week 1
Williams recorded four receptions on five targets for 23 yards in Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Packers.
ANALYSIS
Williams' primary appeal as a fantasy contributor is his ability to hit for explosive plays, but the Packers held him under wraps in Week 1. His longest reception went for just 11 yards, and he was held to his lowest yardage total in a regular-season game since Week 7 of the 2024 campaign. The entire Lions' offense was ineffective, so it's not time to panic on Williams heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Bears.
Sep 6, 2025
Nabs three-year extension
Williams and the Lions agreed Saturday on a three-year, $83 million contract extension with $67 million guaranteed, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports.
ANALYSIS
Williams broke out with a career-best campaign in 2024, recording 58 catches for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing 11 times for 61 yards and another touchdown over 15 regular-season contests. Detroit picked up the Alabama product's fifth-year option in late April, and the sides have now agreed upon a deal that will keep Williams with the team for at least three more campaigns. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jared Goff are signed through 2028, so the trio is slated to work together for the foreseeable future.
Apr 25, 2025
Gets fifth-year option
The Lions picked up Williams' fifth-year option Friday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
As expected, Williams is now under contract through 2026, with a projected $15.49 million salary for the fifth and final season of his rookie deal. The Lions may be hesitant to discuss an extension after Williams' breakout third season in 2024, considering his first two NFL campaigns largely were defined by injuries and suspensions. He cleared 1,000 receiving yards on just 91 targets in 15 regular-season games last year, adding 11 carries for 61 yards and a TD, plus two touches for 80 yards and a score in one playoff game. Williams is safe in his starting job but may find it difficult to significantly improve on last year's 6.1 targets per game while sharing the field with WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, TE Sam LaPorta and RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery -- all of whom will be adjusting to new offensive coordinator John Morton, after Ben Johnson left for Chicago's HC job.
Mar 31, 2025
Should get fifth-year option
The Lions likely will exercise their fifth-year option on Williams this spring, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
ANALYSIS
The Lions have until May 1 to exercise an option that would guarantee Williams a salary around $15.49 million for 2026. That's well below market rate for a quality No. 2 receiver -- something Williams became in 2024 with a 58-1,001-7 receiving line (91 targets) in 15 regular-season games. While unlikely to average more than 6-7 targets per game in an offense loaded with other talented playmakers, Williams should have a similar role this upcoming season under new playcaller John Morton, who previously worked for the Lions in 2022 and then served as Denver's pass-game coordinator the past two years. Lions GM Brad Holmes said he'll likely pick up Williams' fifth-year option, but Holmes didn't mention a contract extension the way he did when discussing fellow 2022 first-round pick Aidan Hutchinson.
Jan 19, 2025
Mixed bag versus Washington
Williams caught one of four targets for 19 yards, while also adding a 61-yard rushing touchdown and an interception in Saturday's 45-31 NFC divisional-round playoff loss to the Commanders.
ANALYSIS
Williams saw his fewest targets since Week 7 in Saturday's loss, leading to just 19 yards through the air. On the flip side, the wide receiver was the beneficiary of a trick-play handoff in the second quarter, scoring a 61-yard touchdown on the ground. Later in the fourth quarter, Williams attempted to throw a pass downfield, which was intercepted by Mike Sainristil. Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown provided the Lions with a formidable duo at wide receiver this year and Williams figures to remain a significant part of Detroit's passing attack in 2025.
Jan 6, 2025
Reaches 1,000-yard threshold
Williams caught six of eight targets for 34 yards in Sunday's 31-9 win over the Vikings.
ANALYSIS
Williams didn't get free for any of his signature deep balls, but the speedster did just enough to reach the 1,000-yard threshold, finishing the regular season with 1,001 receiving yards in 15 games. He scored on seven of his 58 catches while supplying 61 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 rushing attempts. Williams and the Lions have a bye into the NFC divisional round as the top seed in the NFC Conference.
Dec 31, 2024
Two TDs in win
Williams brought in five of eight targets for 77 yards and a touchdown in the Lions' 40-34 win over the 49ers on Monday night. He also netted minus-2 yards on two carries but scored a rushing touchdown.
ANALYSIS
Williams led the Lions in receiving yards and scored a receiving touchdown for the third straight game on a 42-yard hook and lateral in conjunction with Amon-Ra St. Brown early in the second quarter. Prior to that play, which saw Williams turn the corner and speed up the right sideline for a touchdown, the 2022 first-round pick had turned on the jets to record the second rushing score of his career on a three-yard run around left end to erase an early 7-0 deficit. Williams' speed has increasingly become a factor down the stretch, and he now has 17 catches of 20-plus yards heading into the Week 18 showdown against the Vikings that will decide the NFC North crown and conference's No. 1 seed.
Dec 22, 2024
Career-high 143 rec yards in win
Williams caught five of seven targets for 143 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 34-17 win over the Bears. He also rushed once for seven yards.
ANALYSIS
Williams blew by the defense for an 82-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter, which helped him set a new single-game career high in receiving yards. The speedster has surpassed 120 yards with a touchdown three times this season, and Williams takes a budding two-game touchdown streak into Week 17 against the 49ers. He's up to 47 catches for 890 yards and six touchdowns, all career highs.
Dec 16, 2024
Finds end zone in loss
Williams caught three of five targets for 37 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 48-42 loss to the Bills.
ANALYSIS
Williams was limited to his lowest reception total since Week 10, but he did salvage his day with a three-yard touchdown catch with less than a minute left in the game. The wide receiver has now compiled 25 catches for 386 yards and two touchdowns over the last six games following his two-game suspension. On the season, Williams has emerged as a legitimate No. 2 option at wide receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown this season, catching 42 of 68 targets for 747 yards and five touchdowns, while also adding eight carries for 56 yards over 12 games.
Dec 6, 2024
Paces team in receiving yards
Williams caught five of eight targets for 80 yards in Thursday's 34-31 win over the Packers.
ANALYSIS
Williams led the team in receiving yards on a team-high eight targets, most notably reeling in a 28-yard catch in the first quarter. The wide receiver's dynamic skill set has led to some big performances this season and the five catches matched his season high, which he has now accomplished in three straight games and five times overall in 2024. On the year, Williams has caught 39 of 63 targets for 710 yards and four touchdowns while appearing in 11 games.
Nov 28, 2024
Modest output in Week 13
Williams gathered in five of seven targets for 28 yards and took two carries for 18 yards during Thursday's 23-20 win against the Bears.
ANALYSIS
After racking up at least 50 receiving yards in each of the Lions' previous three contests, Williams fell off a bit Week 13, despite tying his third-highest target count of the campaign. He did match Amon-Ra St. Brown for the team lead on that front, but all of St. Brown (5-73-0), Tim Patrick (2-48-0 on three targets) and David Montgomery (3-36-0 on three targets) ranked above Williams as pass catchers, and TE Sam LaPorta hauled in both of Jared Goff's TD passes. On a positive note, though, Williams recorded a season high in rushing yards with the help of a 15-yard carry that included him hurdling a Bears defender. His next chance to produce will be next Thursday versus the Packers.
Nov 24, 2024
Leading receiver with 64 yards
Williams had five receptions (seven targets) for 64 yards while adding one rushing attempt for four yards in Sunday's 24-6 win over the Colts.
ANALYSIS
The Lions didn't need their top wideouts much in a comfortable win over the Colts, leading to modest stat lines for Williams and the rest of Detroit's receiving corps. The 23-year-old has been hot and cold this season, resulting in a 29-602-4 line through nine healthy games. Williams' home-run potential will keep him a viable fantasy option for the contending Lions in a home matchup against the Bears on Thanksgiving Day.
Nov 17, 2024
Blows past century mark in win
Williams brought in four of six targets for 124 yards and a touchdown and rushed once for two yards in the Lions' 52-6 win over the Jaguars on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
Williams finished a distant second in receptions, receiving yards and targets to Amon-Ra St. Brown, but he put together a standout performance in his own right. Williams sealed his second 100-yard performance of the season with a 64-yard catch-and-run touchdown early in the third quarter, his fourth score overall this season. Williams lines up for another favorable matchup when the Lions travel to face the Colts in a Week 12 interconference clash next Sunday.
Nov 11, 2024
Gains 53 yards in return
Williams (suspension) recorded three receptions (five targets) for 53 yards in Sunday's 26-23 win over the Texans.
ANALYSIS
Williams was reinstated following a two-game suspension after testing positive for performance-enhancing substances. The 2022 first-round selection resumed his role opposite start wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown. Williams is more of a boom or bust asset compared to some of his talented teammates, giving the receiver some deep-league appeal heading into next Sunday's tilt against Jacksonville.
Nov 6, 2024
Has roster exemption lifted
The NFL lifted Williams' roster exemption Wednesday, per the NFL's transaction log.
ANALYSIS
Williams thus officially is available again after serving a two-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. Prior to the ban, he regularly was logging at least 70 percent of the offensive snaps on a weekly basis, but his production was sporadic, es evidenced by a 17-361-3 line on 30 targets and four carries for 32 yards through the first six games of the campaign. Williams will be rejoining a Lions offense that has all of its key skill-position players healthy at the moment.
Nov 4, 2024
Suspension over, has roster exemption
Williams' two-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances was lifted Monday, but the Lions were given a roster exemption, allowing the team some time to bring him back to the active roster, per the NFL's transaction log.
ANALYSIS
Williams sat out wins Week 8 against the Titans and Week 9 at Green Bay, but with his ban over, coach Dan Campbell told Benjamin Raven of MLive.com on Monday that the Lions are "gonna kick him out there with the offense and get him going. I expect him to be ready to roll." The aforementioned roster exemption doesn't have a known timeline to expire, but based on Campbell's comments, Williams appears as if he'll be available for Sunday's game at Houston.
Oct 24, 2024
Officially suspended two games
The NFL officially suspended Williams two games for violating the league's policy regarding performance-enhancing substances Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Initial word of the suspension leaked Monday via Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com, and shortly after Williams announced through his agency Alliance Sports Management on Thursday that he won't appeal the ban, it became official. Williams thus will be out Week 8 against the Titans and Week 9 in Green Bay, after which he'll be eligible for reinstatement Monday, Nov. 4. In the meantime, Tim Patrick, Kalif Raymond and Allen Robinson will be the candidates for reps behind top WR Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Oct 24, 2024
Not appealing two-game suspension
Williams announced via his agency Alliance Sports Management on Thursday that he won't appeal his two-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.
ANALYSIS
Williams thus will be absent this Sunday against the Titans and Week 9 at Green Bay, making his next possible game action Sunday, Nov. 10 in Houston. While Williams is sidelined, the Lions will lean on Tim Patrick, Kalif Raymond and Allen Robinson alongside top wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Oct 21, 2024
Facing two-game suspension
Williams is expected to receive a two-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy regarding performance-enhancing substances, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Williams is expected to accept the suspension per Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com. That would result in him being sidelined until Week 10 at Houston. In his absence, Tim Patrick and Kalif Raymond figure to serve as the primary backups behind Amon-Ra St. Brown at wide receiver.
Oct 20, 2024
Disappears in Week 7 win
Williams brought in his only target for minus-4 yards in the Lions' 31-29 win over the Vikings on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
Williams' final line tells the tale of how forgettable his afternoon was in every sense. The third-year wideout had come into the afternoon with a two-game touchdown streak and at least 76 receiving yards in four of his first five games of the season, but Sunday marked his second one-reception tally of the campaign. Williams' speed makes him a candidate to bounce back in noteworthy fashion on any given week, however, with a home matchup against the Titans next Sunday his first opportunity to erase the memory of his season-worst outing.
Oct 13, 2024
Makes long touchdown grab
Williams recorded three receptions on four targets for 76 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 47-9 win over the Cowboys. He added one rush for 11 yards.
ANALYSIS
The Lions had relatively flat target distribution in Sunday's blowout win, with Kalif Raymond surprisingly leading the way with six looks. Though Williams has now seen only nine targets combined across his last three games, he continues to deliver electric plays. Against the Cowboys, that came early in the third quarter on a 37-yard touchdown during which Williams beat Trevon Diggs to the corner of the end zone to haul in a deep pass. Williams' profile suggests he should be a boom or bust option, but he has at least 75 receiving yards in four of five games on the campaign.
Oct 1, 2024
Electric touchdown grab Monday
Williams brought in both targets for 80 yards and a touchdown in the Lions' 42-29 win over the Seahawks on Monday night.
ANALYSIS
Williams appeared on his way to another disappointing performance after a one-catch dud against the Cardinals in Week 3, but he ripped off a 70-yard catch and run for a critical touchdown late in the third quarter Monday night. Williams now has three 70-yard-plus performances over the first four games of the season, but after drawing a combined 20 targets over the first pair of contests, he's logged just five in the subsequent two games. Williams will remain a somewhat big-play-dependent option when the Lions return to action against the Cowboys in a Week 6 road battle on Oct. 13 following a Week 5 bye.
Sep 22, 2024
Cools off in Week 3 win
Williams caught one of three targets for nine yards and rushed once for minus-7 yards in Sunday's 20-13 win over the Cardinals.
ANALYSIS
Williams came crashing back down to earth after racking up 228 scrimmage yards through two games. The speedster's a big-play threat any time he gets the ball in his hands, but Williams' touch floor is much lower than those of wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown or the backfield duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Williams will look to bounce back on the national stage next week, when the Lions host the Seahawks on MNF.
Sep 15, 2024
Has 20 targets through two games
Williams (ankle) caught five of 11 targets for 79 yards in Sunday's 20-16 loss to the Buccaneers.
ANALYSIS
Williams picked up where he left off after racking up 121 receiving yards and a touchdown last week, catching a 50-yard pass on Detroit's second drive to set up a field goal. After posting no more than seven targets in any game across his first two seasons, Williams has opened 2024 with nine targets in Week 1 and 11 in Week 2, though he was overshadowed by Amon-Ra St. Brown's 19 targets in the loss to Tampa Bay. Williams will continue stretching the field for Detroit with his elite speed in Week 3 against the Cardinals.
Sep 15, 2024
Good to go for Week 2
Williams (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.
ANALYSIS
Williams took a questionable tag into the weekend after he was a limited participant in all three of the Lions' practices this week due to an ankle injury. The Lions apparently saw enough from Williams in those practices to sign off on his availability for the Week 2 matchup, and with no reports that he'll be facing any restrictions Sunday, he should take on a sizable snap share as one of the Lions' starting receivers. The third-year wideout is coming off a breakthrough Week 1 outing against the Rams in which he produced a 5-121-1 receiving line on nine targets while taking his lone carry for 13 yards.
Sep 14, 2024
Trending towards playing
Williams (ankle), who is listed as questionable, is trending towards playing in Sunday's matchup against the Buccaneers, Jordan Schultz of BleacherReport.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Schultz outright suggested the speedy wide receiver would be active Sunday, but the team will officially make that announcement well before the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. The third-year wide receiver is coming off easily one of his best games as a pro and should be in position to be an offensive factor once more against a Buccaneers secondary that is dealing with variety of injuries.
Sep 13, 2024
Listed as questionable
Williams (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.
ANALYSIS
Williams was a limited practice participant Wednesday through Friday, after setting career highs for snap share (85 percent), targets (nine) and receiving yards (121) in a Week 1 win over the Rams. He'll have a favorable matchup Sunday if he avoids the inactive list ahead of a 1:00 ET kickoff, as Tampa Bay's secondary suffered numerous injuries in a Week 1 win over Washington, losing star safety Antoine Winfield (foot) and the top two backups at cornerback. The Lions don't have much WR depth on their roster, especially with rookie Isaiah Williams (abdomen) ruled out this week, but they have a slew of veterans on the practice squad -- Tim Patrick, Allen Robinson, Donovan Peoples-Jones -- that could be called up to join Amon-Ra St. Brown and Kalif Raymond in the Week 2 lineup.
Sep 12, 2024
Remains limited in practice
Williams (ankle) was limited at practice Thursday.
ANALYSIS
The Lions continue to take it easy on Williams as he deals with an ankle injury. During the team's Week 1 win against the Rams, he served as one of quarterback Jared Goff's top options in the passing game to the tune of five catches (on nine targets) for 121 yards and one touchdown. Williams also added a 13-yard carry. Friday's practice report will reveal whether or not he enters the weekend with a designation for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.
Sep 11, 2024
Dealing with ankle issue
Williams practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday due to an ankle injury.
ANALYSIS
On the heels of a breakout Week 1 performance Sunday night against the Rams -- 5-121-1 on nine targets, plus a 13-yard carry -- Williams is tending to a health concern, which may stem from the first-half play in which he appeared to get banged up. He of course finished out the contest, but the Lions will take it easy on the third-year wide receiver as the team ramps up for Sunday's game versus the Buccaneers.
Sep 9, 2024
Carries passing attack in win
Williams caught five of nine targets for 121 yards and a touchdown while adding a 13-yard run in Sunday's 26-20 overtime win over the Rams.
ANALYSIS
Williams accounted for 121 of Jared Goff's 217 passing yards, outperforming the combined receiving contributions of Sam LaPorta (45 yards on five targets), Jahmyr Gibbs (34 yards on six targets) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (13 yards on six targets). The highlight of Williams' night was a 52-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter on which he left cornerback Tre'Davious White in the dust. Detroit's other premier pass catchers won't always be so quiet, but Williams appears to have finally carved out a prominent role after two disappointing seasons. The speedy wide receiver will look to build on this encouraging performance in Week 2 against the Buccaneers.
Jul 24, 2024
Standing out early in camp
Williams has been an early standout at Lions training camp practices, Jeff Seidel on the Detroit Free Press reports.
ANALYSIS
Teammates Amon-Ra St. Brown and David Montgomery were singing Williams' praises after the first day of camp. "We all know he's fast," St. Brown said. "He just looks more comfortable. He looks like he's done this before." Williams and Jared Goff were connecting deep down the field, and Montgomery took notice. "The biggest thing I'd probably say is confidence," Montgomery said of Williams. "He was doing special things in college, but to see him here in person from the first year that I was here to now, it's a big, big improvement." Williams is locked into WR2 duties with the Lions after Josh Reynolds exited in free agency. The sky is the limit for the 2022 first-round wideout playing in an offense that likes to throw the ball and has targets to go around. Williams is a popular 2024 breakout candidate in fantasy circles.
May 23, 2024
Making improvements
Coach Dan Campbell said Thursday that Williams is "a man on a mission" and has made notable improvements this offseason, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Williams hasn't yet lived up to his 12th overall draft capital from back in 2022, but he's also faced unique hurdles to begin his NFL career. His big-play ability is undeniable, as is the opportunity for a third playmaker to emerge in Detroit's passing game behind studs Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta, though plenty of targets should be distributed to running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Potential for a year-three breakout is still there, but it depends on Williams truly logging an impressive offseason and earning consistent targets in a crowded offense.
Apr 29, 2024
Gets subtle vote of confidence
Williams is part of a WR room that didn't add any new bodies during the 2024 NFL Draft.
ANALYSIS
It's a subtle vote of confidence in the 12th overall pick from the 2022 NFL Draft, as Detroit's roster otherwise has a slew of fourth-receiver types behind Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown -- namely Kalif Raymond, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Antoine Green and Tre'Quan Smith. The No. 2 receiver spot may not be a high-volume task in an offense with ARSB, TE Sam LaPorta and an excellent RB duo, but it's nonetheless a positive sign for Williams that the Lions didn't prioritize adding competition for him this offseason. While he made a bunch of big plays down the stretch last season, Williams has played only 522 regular-season snaps on offense to this point in his career and has never caught more than five passes in a game.
Feb 27, 2024
Pushing to be 'full-time starter'
Head coach Dan Campbell indicated that Williams is set for an increased role in 2024, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports. "[Williams] is going to push to be a full-time starter and that's what we're looking for. Everybody grows at a different rate. Maybe it's taken him a little bit longer, but he is developing and growing. The kid has come on. We got high hopes for him and see him continuing to grow," Campbell said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine.
ANALYSIS
Williams technically became a starter in Week 7 of last season, but he never topped 70 percent of the offensive snaps in a single game until Detroit's season-ending loss to the 49ers in the playoffs. The 2022 first-round pick also saw just 3.5 targets per game after joining the starting unit. Given that the likes of Josh Reynolds and DJ Chark have regularly topped 80 percent of the offensive snaps while serving as the No. 2 wideout behind Amon-Ra St. Brown in recent years, Williams at least has considerable room to grow from a playing-time standpoint, especially with Reynolds set to become an unrestricted free agent. However, neither Reynolds or Chark saw more than 4.7 targets per game in a season with Detroit, and none of the top-36 wide receivers in per-game half-PPR scoring saw less than 5.6 targets per game in 2023. With St. Brown and Sam LaPorta presumably the centerpieces for the passing game of a run-first Lions offense, Williams may need to rely upon touchdowns and explosive plays to pay off as a diff
Feb 11, 2024
Totals 383 total yards in 2023
Williams caught 24 passes on 42 targets for 354 yards and two touchdowns while rushing three times for 29 yards and one touchdown over 12 games in 2023.
ANALYSIS
While Williams -- who missed the first four games of the year due to a gambling-related suspension -- has not truly lived up to his first-round pedigree through two seasons, he seems to be making strides in the right direction. After starting the season consistently logging less than half of the offensive snaps, the Alabama product finished the year seeing at least two-thirds of them while serving as the No. 2 wide receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown. Williams then made a number of catches over three playoff games, ultimately putting together a two-touchdown performance in a loss to the 49ers in the NFC championship game. Unless Detroit brings in significant competition at wide receiver, Williams could be in store for a breakout 2024 campaign as an ascending talent within a high-scoring offense.
Jan 10, 2024
Logs full practice Wednesday
Williams (ankle) practiced fully Wednesday.
ANALYSIS
After injuring his ankle during the Lions' Week 17 loss at Dallas, Williams kicked off Week 18 prep with an absence from drills. It continued Thursday and Friday, but he was listed with an illness on both occasions and eventually was ruled out for this past Sunday's regular-season finale against the Vikings. Coach Dan Campbell told Kyle Meinke of MLive.com on Monday that Williams was expected to practice this week and should be OK for Sunday night's wild-card matchup with the Rams, and after Wednesday's uncapped session, the wide receiver is in the clear to return to action. In eight appearances since Detroit's Week 9 bye, Williams averaged 15.7 yards on his 18 catches, notched three carries for 29 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Jan 10, 2024
Practicing to start week
Williams (ankle/illness) is practicing Wednesday, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Williams sprained his ankle Week 17 and missed Week 18, with coach Dan Campbell then saying Monday that the wide receiver should return for the start of the playoffs. His participation Wednesday confirms Williams is on the right track to make it back for Sunday's game against the Rams.
Jan 8, 2024
Expected to play versus Los Angeles
Coach Dan Campbell said Monday that Williams (ankle/illness) is expected to be good to play next Sunday against the Rams, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Williams missed practice last Wednesday with an ankle injury and then came down with an illness Thursday. He missed the Week 18 finale against the Vikings but is expected to practice this week leading up to Sunday's playoff game. Williams could take on a bigger target workload if Sam LaPorta (knee) is unable to play.
Jan 5, 2024
Ruled out for Week 18
Williams (ankle/illness) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Minnesota.
ANALYSIS
Williams suffered an ankle injury early in the fourth quarter of last Saturday's 20-19 loss to Dallas and never returned to the game. He didn't practice this week, and the Lions never figured to push things given that their Week 18 result is highly unlikely to have an impact on their playoff seed (currently No. 3). It's possible some of the teams healthy players are held out or rested, and that combined with Williams being absent should lead to at least one of the team's depth receivers (Kalif Raymond, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Antoine Green) playing a lot of snaps. Williams, meanwhile, will hope to make it back for a home game in the wild-card round.
Jan 4, 2024
Comes down with illness
Williams (ankle/illness) was a non-participant at Thursday's practice.
ANALYSIS
Williams' listed absence Wednesday was due to the ankle injury that forced him out of this past Saturday's game at Dallas, but an illness now is afflicting the second-year wide receiver as well. Per Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com, coach Dan Campbell termed the ankle issue "nothing significant" Monday, but the new ailment clouds Williams' status as the Lions make their way through Week 18 prep. Friday's practice report could be telling for Williams' odds to suit up Sunday against the Vikings.
Jan 3, 2024
Starts Week 18 prep with DNP
Williams (ankle) won't practice Wednesday, per coach Dan Campbell, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Campbell downplayed Williams' injury Monday, but it's significant enough to keep the wide receiver off the practice field Wednesday. The coach says that the team plans to play its starters as usual against the Vikings in Sunday's regular-season finale, but injured players could get the week off to heal up for the playoffs, so Williams could be held out as a precaution even if the injury isn't especially significant.
Jan 1, 2024
Injury not deemed significant
Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Monday that Williams' ankle injury is "nothing significant," Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Williams hurt his ankle in the fourth quarter of Saturday's loss to Dallas and was unable to return. However, the injury doesn't appear to be serious, and the second-year wideout is considered day-to-day, per Campbell. That being said, the Lions are unlikely to move out of the No. 3 playoff seed in the NFC, so it wouldn't be surprising if Williams is put on a snap count or held out altogether for Sunday's regular-season finale versus Minnesota.
Dec 30, 2023
Injures ankle Saturday
Williams exited Saturday's game at Dallas due to ankle injury.
ANALYSIS
Williams made a splash play early in the fourth quarter, connecting with quarterback Jared Goff for a 63-yard grab. Thereafter, Williams went to the sideline and eventually the locker room, per Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site, from where he was deemed questionable to return. If he isn't able to do so, Williams will finish Week 17 with two catches (on three targets) for 69 yards and one carry for six yards.
Dec 24, 2023
Has career-high five catches Sunday
Williams gathered in five of six targets for 43 yards during Sunday's 30-24 win in Minnesota.
ANALYSIS
Williams has struggled for consistent results in his second pro campaign, but he's now put together a cumulative 9-90-0 line on 13 targets over the last two contests. The 13 looks from Goff marks the most usage in any two-game stretch of Williams' brief career, which may portend his current standing in the Lions offense with just two weeks remaining in the regular season. Fellow wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown again dominated Goff's attention to the tune of 12-106-1 on 14 targets, so Williams will need to take advantage of the handful of times he gets the ball in his hands in order to produce Saturday, Dec. 30 at Dallas.
Dec 17, 2023
Targeted seven times
Williams recorded four receptions on seven targets for 47 yards in Saturday's 42-17 win over the Broncos.
ANALYSIS
Williams' overall stat line may not look significant, but he topped three targets for only the second time this season. He also showed ability as a possession receiver rather than just a deep threat, as he was targeted primarily in short areas of the field with the majority of his yardage coming after the catch. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta will continue to be prioritized as pass catchers, but Williams is still plenty capable of emerging as the third receiver in Detroit.
Dec 13, 2023
Held catchless in loss
Williams failed to secure his lone target in Sunday's 28-13 loss to the Bears.
ANALYSIS
Despite playing the second-most offensive snaps (38) at wide receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown (57), Williams failed to record a single reception in the contest. The 22-year-old wideout did, however, carry the ball once for four yards. Williams' big-play potential is intriguing, but his production is far too inconsistent to make him a reliable fantasy option. The second-year receiver will look to bounce back in Week 15 when the Lions host the Broncos.
Dec 4, 2023
Scores on double reverse
Williams secured his only target for 11 yards while rushing once for 19 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's win over the Saints.
ANALYSIS
Williams again logged around 60 percent of the offensive snaps, but an increased workload in the passing game has yet to follow the jump in playing time he is seeing. At least Williams made the most of the touches he had, with one of the game's highlights being a double reverse that saw Willams display his high-end speed for a 19-yard rushing touchdown. The Alabama product will next aim at a Chicago defense allowing the sixth-most points per game (24.7) in 2023.
Nov 30, 2023
Role expanding
Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson indicated that Williams could see increased usage moving forward. "[Williams'] reps are going up. He continues to get out there and the ball is just going to keep gravitating to him a little bit more than it already has."
ANALYSIS
After seeing no more than a quarter of the offensive snaps in any game as a rookie and no more than 50 percent in any game before Detroit's Week 9 bye week, Williams logged between 52 and 68 percent of the offensive snaps in each of the three games since the bye. While the Alabama product didn't see more than three targets in any of them, there is legitimate hope that his workload could increase since nothing correlates stronger with statistical production than playing time.
Nov 27, 2023
Totals 51 yards
Williams caught two of three targets for 51 yards during Thursday's loss to the Packers.
ANALYSIS
While Williams' 58 percent snap share is a downturn from the career-high 68 percent he saw last week, he set a new career high with 49 offensive snaps on a day the Lions ran 84 offensive plays. That figure matched No. 2 wide receiver Josh Reynolds, who had consistently been seeing around three quarters of the offensive snaps when healthy this year, though Kalif Raymond and Donovan Peoples-Jones saw added snaps as well. However, even though the recent increase in playing time has been a positive development for Williams, he'll likely need to evolve into the clear No. 2 wide receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown in order to gain fantasy relevance in a passing game otherwise headed by tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
Nov 19, 2023
Two catches in Week 11 win
Williams caught two of three targets for 44 yards in Sunday's 31-26 win over the Bears.
ANALYSIS
Most of Williams' yardage came on a 32-yard catch, which is his second-longest play of the season after a 45-yard touchdown reception against the Buccaneers in Week 6. The big-play threat has drawn more than three targets only once in six 2023 appearances heading into Thursday's home game against the Packers on Thanksgiving.
Nov 14, 2023
Takes step in right direction
Williams secured both of his targets for 18 yards during Sunday's 41-38 win over the Chargers.
ANALYSIS
While Williams has yet to put together a breakout performance, he seemingly took a step in the right direction while logging a career-high 52 percent of the offensive snaps coming out of Detroit's bye week. In addition to not dropping any of his passes, Williams made key blocks during David Montgomery's 75-yard touchdown scamper that contributed heavily to the Lions' three-point win. Given that offensive coordinator Ben Johnson reportedly told Williams that his involvement in the offense won't improve unless Williams first improves as a blocker, per John Maakaron of Sports Illustrated, this performance will hopefully lead to more opportunities for Williams down the road. However, one complicating factor in his outlook is the recently acquired Donovan Peoples-Jones (ribs), as it remains to be seen if he was merely brought in for depth purposes or not.
Oct 31, 2023
Another forgettable showing
Williams caught two of three targets for 16 yards during Monday's win over Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
After a brutal Week 7 showing that saw Williams catch zero passes on six targets, Williams dropped another pass on his first target of the game before getting leveled by Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby on a jet sweep that counted as a reception for Williams. While Williams otherwise managed to catch a pass for a positive gain, he only has one of those over the past two weeks despite now running as the clear No. 3 receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds. The bright side is that Williams is earning targets at a much higher rate than Reynolds, and the absence of Marvin Jones (personal) only bodes well for Williams' playing time going forward. After a Week 9 bye, Williams will return for a Week 10 date with a Chargers team allowing the most yards per reception league-wide (8.4) and 33.9 more passing yards per game to the next-closest team through eight weeks.
Oct 23, 2023
No output despite six targets
Williams saw six targets but did not catch a pass during Sunday's loss to Baltimore.
ANALYSIS
Williams turned in a disappointing performance despite a new career high in usage, not only dropping a pair of fourth-quarter passes but also stopping short on another route and being the intended target on Jared Goff's lone interception. Outside of catching a pair of long touchdowns thus far into his young career -- a 41-yard catch in Week 14 of last season and a 45-yarder last week against Tampa Bay -- Williams has otherwise caught just three of 19 targets for 10 yards through nine career games. With each of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs commanding the majority of Goff's attention lately, Williams will be nothing more than the fourth option in the passing game entering an inviting Week 8 matchup with the Raiders.
Oct 16, 2023
Makes most of limited role
Williams recorded two receptions on three targets for 53 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-6 win over the Buccaneers.
ANALYSIS
Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta accounted for 26 targets, while no other Detroit receiver saw more than three. Williams was among that group, though he managed to stand out thanks to a long 45-yard touchdown reception late in the third quarter. In addition to showing off his deep speed, Williams made an impressive adjustment on the underthrown ball and managed to out-maneuver a defender blanketed on him. He has only six targets across his first two games of the season, though his performance Sunday could earn him a more significant role moving forward.
Oct 9, 2023
Small role in debut
Williams caught two of three targets for two yards during Sunday's 42-24 win over Carolina.
ANALYSIS
Williams' highly-anticipated 2023 debut was more or less of a dud from a production standpoint. Despite the absences of Amon-Ra St. Brown (abdomen) and Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring), Williams tied for fourth among Lions wide receivers in snaps and didn't do much with the opportunities he was given. Meanwhile, Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond and Sam LaPorta did most of the heavy lifting for a Detroit passing game that efficiently accumulated 236 yards. Even if St. Brown remains sidelined in Week 6 against Tampa Bay, Williams may not be needed for the kind of volume that would warrant consideration for fantasy lineups.
Oct 8, 2023
Making season debut Sunday
Williams (non-injury) is listed as active Sunday versus the Panthers.
ANALYSIS
With a suspension for violating the NFL's gambling policy behind him, Williams will be available to the Lions offense for the first time this season. On its face, the situation would seem to be a positive one for the second-year pro with top wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (abdomen) sidelined. However, coach Dan Campbell mentioned earlier in the week that Williams would be eased into action, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported Sunday morning that Williams was slated for a limited role. Thus, it'll be difficult to trust Williams to produce Sunday, even with St. Brown out.
Oct 8, 2023
Limited role expected in debut
Williams (not injury related), who is listed as questionable but on track to play Sunday against the Panthers, is expected to be limited to around 20 snaps in his season debut, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
After missing the first four games of the season while serving a suspension for violating the NFL's gambling policy, Williams was cleared to return to practice this week and was a full participant in sessions Wednesday through Friday. Though the time off while he served his suspension has allowed Williams to heal up from his preseason hamstring injury, the Lions don't appear ready to turn him loose for a full-time role in his 2023 debut. Even though he'll likely be in store for a light snap count Sunday, Williams could still be heavily targeted during his limited time on the field, as the Lions are expected to be without two of their top pass catchers in Amon-Ra St. Brown (abdomen) and Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring).
Oct 7, 2023
Expected to play Sunday
Williams (non-injury) is expected to play in Sunday's Week 5 game against the Panthers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Williams had his six-game gambling ban reduced to four games earlier in the week and was immediately eligible to return to the team. He practiced this week and showed enough to get on the field Sunday. Even with Amon-Ra St. Brown (abdomen) doubtful and not expected to play, Williams shouldn't be counted on for a full-time role. Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond are the favorites for snaps.
Oct 6, 2023
Listed as questionable
Williams (not injury related) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Carolina.
ANALYSIS
This would seem to be the Lions' way of suggesting that Williams may not be ready to play even though he's healthy and no longer suspended. It also adds to concerns about his potential workload in the event he's active ahead of the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, though the Lions don't exactly have great WR alternatives with No. 1 Amon-Ra St. Brown (abdomen) listed as doubtful and Josh Reynolds (groin) deemed questionable. Reynolds was a full practice participant Friday and at this point looks like the safest bet for snaps and targets among Detroit's WRs.
Oct 4, 2023
Logs full practice Wednesday
Williams was listed as a full participant on Wednesday's estimated practice report.
ANALYSIS
Williams' six-game suspension to begin the season due to a violation of the NFL's gambling policy was reduced to four games last Friday after the league and NFL Players Association agreed to an amended policy. The Lions have a roster exemption for Williams until next Monday, but considering the team's top two wide receivers are tending to injuries, Williams could have a decent role off the bat, assuming he's active, despite coach Dan Campbell's assertion Monday that the second-year pro will have a limited role, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Williams' situation for Sunday's contest versus the Panthers may change if one or both of Amon-Ra St. Brown (abdomen, DNP on Wednesday) and Josh Reynolds (groin, LP) are limited or sidelined this weekend.
Oct 3, 2023
Set for supporting role
Head coach Dan Campbell said that Williams will serve in a supporting role should the receiver be active in Week 5 against the Panthers, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports. "I'm not looking for yards, I'm not looking for explosives, not looking for touchdowns. Man, just be a reliable receiver, like any of those guys in the room. That's it," Campbell said Monday.
ANALYSIS
Williams saw two touches in six games as a rookie before missing time with two different hamstring injuries this past summer. While he is considered healthy upon his return from his gambling-related suspension Monday, Campbell not only made it clear that Williams "can't play 60 plays" this weekend, but he insisted that Detroit needs "to see where [Williams] is at with football" to figure out how much it can depend on the Alabama product going forward. Williams could still be a worthwhile stash in fantasy formats thanks to his theoretically high ceiling, but expectations for his production should be held in check if he returns as nothing more than the No. 4 receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds, and Kalif Raymond.
Oct 2, 2023
Suspension officially over
The NFL reinstated Williams from his suspension related to the league's gambling policy Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Initially, Williams was handed a six-game ban to kick off the current campaign, but after the league and NFL Player's Association agreed to a new policy Friday, it was reduced to four games, making him eligible to return to action Week 5. Coach Dan Campbell spoke of Williams' role upon gaining clearance to play, telling Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com on Monday that "we'll see where it goes, and it's all about improvement." The Lions don't expect to give Williams a full complement of snaps off the bat, but he's in line to play some sort of role Sunday against the Panthers. His six appearances from the 2022 season included no more than a 24 percent share of offensive snaps in any given game, and while he was targeted nine times, he had only one 41-yard touchdown catch in addition to a 40-yard run, displaying the dynamic ability he showed off in 2021 at Alabama.
Oct 2, 2023
Will have role Week 5
Lions head coach Dan Campbell suggested Monday that he anticipates Williams (suspension) filling a role in Sunday's game against the Panthers, though the receiver may not see a heavy snap count in his season debut, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports. "We'll see where it goes and it's all about improvement," Campbell said of Williams.
ANALYSIS
Williams had been in line to serve as a six-game suspension to begin the season after receiving the ban in April for violating the NFL's gambling policy, but he'll wind up missing just four contests after the league and player's union agreed last week to revise the policy. Before the revised policy was announced, Williams was eligible to return to the Lions' facility last week, and he'll now be able to take part in practices for the first time since the preseason. Williams was limited to just six games during his rookie season while he recovered from an ACL tear suffered in college, and he ended up missing out on some meaningful reps in the preseason when he pulled his right hamstring in a mid-August practice. The 22-year-old seemingly moved past the injury while he was serving his suspension, but he's not expected to be a full-time player for the Lions in Week 5 while he gets himself reacclimated to a regular practice and playing schedule. Though injuries and the suspension have conspired to slow down his de
Sep 29, 2023
Now eligible for Week 5
Williams is eligible to play as soon as Week 5 against Carolina after the NFL and NFLPA agreed Friday on a new policy for player gambling, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reports.
ANALYSIS
The new policy increases punishments for betting on NFL games and decreases punishments for betting on other spots from team facilities. The league originally suspended Williams for the first six games of the season but will now allow him to come back after sitting out four weeks, potentially providing another boost to a Detroit passing game that's largely leaned on WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds and TE Sam LaPorta. If Williams lives up to his first-round billing it'll be one of the league's best groups of pass catchers, with potential for RB Jahmyr Gibbs to give the Lions a fourth high-impact player at some point. On the hand, Reynolds could maintain a degree of fantasy relevance if Williams struggles to earn snaps and/or targets.
Sep 25, 2023
Back at facility but can't practice
Williams (suspension) returned to Detroit's team facility Monday, Eric Woodyard of ESPN reports. Williams remains ineligible to participate in group workouts or practices, and the earliest he could play in a game is Week 7 against Baltimore.
ANALYSIS
In addition to his gambling suspension, Williams has also been rehabbing a hamstring injury, though it's unclear where he stands in the recovery process from that injury. Detroit's team doctors will get a chance to assess the health of the wide receiver's hamstring with nearly a month remaining before Williams will be eligible to play. Once he returns, the 2022 first-round draft pick could find himself battling for playing time with Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond. Reynolds is tied with rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs for third on the team with 13 targets through three games, trailing Amon-Ra St. Brown (28) and rookie tight end Sam LaPorta (22).
Sep 2, 2023
Away from team for next month
Williams (suspension) has a "plan in place" to rehab his hamstring injury until Week 4 when he can work with team doctors again, Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News reports.
ANALYSIS
Williams has been barred from the team facility since Tuesday and can't rejoin the Lions until the start of Week 4 (Tues., Sept. 26) or play in a game until Week 7 (Oct. 22 at BAL). A hamstring injury cut his preseason short after a 2-18-0 receiving line on seven targets in the opener, but it shouldn't end up impacting his regular season given that he's suspended for the first six games anyway. The Lions discussed a rehab plan with Williams' agent for the four weeks he's away from the team.
Aug 17, 2023
Likely done for preseason
Coach Dan Campbell said Thursday that Williams (hamstring/suspension) won't play Saturday versus the Jaguars and "there's a good chance" he's done for the preseason, Kyle Meike of MLive.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Williams is already suspended for the first six games of the regular season, giving him plenty of time to recover, but every missed offseason rep will be impactful for the second-year pro. A 2022 first-round pick, Williams scarcely played as a rookie while working his way back from an ACL tear suffered in college. As he won't be eligible to even participate in team practices while suspended, it wouldn't be surprising if Williams gets off to a slow start when eligible to play, and healthy, during the 2023 season.
Aug 16, 2023
Appears to pull hamstring
Williams (suspension) left Wednesday's practice early due to an apparent right hamstring injury, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
ANALYSIS
Williams was able to walk to the locker room under his own power, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports. The second-year wideout, who is already facing a six-game suspension, missed time earlier in training camp due to a minor leg injury. After missing most of his rookie season due to recovery from an ACL tear, Williams can scarce afford to miss many of the preseason reps remaining ahead of Week 1.
Aug 12, 2023
Seven targets in preseason opener
Williams caught two of seven targets for 18 yards in Friday's 21-16 preseason win over the Giants.
ANALYSIS
The Lions dialed up a few deep balls to Williams, but he and backup quarterback Nate Sudfeld couldn't get on the same page. After missing most of his rookie season while recovering from a torn ACL, Williams is expected to stretch the field for Detroit with his speed once his six-game suspension for gambling expires. The 2022 first-round pick should continue to be featured heavily throughout the preseason.
Aug 2, 2023
In line for many preseason reps
Coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday that Williams (suspension) will get "a ton of game reps" during the Lions' three preseason contests, Tim Twentyman of the team's official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Detroit opens its exhibition slate Friday, Aug. 11 against the Giants, a game in which Williams can expect to see significant run. Whether or not that'll be with Jared Goff and the rest of the first-team offense remains to be seen, but, as Campbell noted, Williams "didn't practice last year" due to his recovery from a torn ACL that sidelined the wide receiver until Week 13. Once he got on the field, Williams' snap count was managed, and he logged just two touches, but they went for a 41-yard touchdown catch and a 40-yard carry. So far in training camp, he's had little issue getting open against the Lions defense, but issues with drops continue to plague him. In any case, the team has a plan for Williams to get as much work as possible before he's required to serve a six-game gambling suspension to start the upcoming campaign.
Jul 31, 2023
Getting open but dropping passes
Williams had little trouble creating separation from defenders at Sunday's practice but struggled with drops, MLive.com's Kyle Meinke reports.
ANALYSIS
It was the 22-year-old's first padded practice of the summer, after missing a few days with a minor leg injury. The Lions figure to keep him fairly busy in practice and perhaps even the preseason, considering Williams will have six weeks to rest at the start of the regular season while serving a suspension for violations of the NFL's gambling policy. Once the 2022 first-round pick is eligible to play, he should have every chance to emerge as the top perimeter threat in an offense that otherwise has its most dangerous playmakers working from the slot (Amon-Ra St. Brown) or backfield (Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery). The drops are something to keep an eye on given that Williams had three on eight targets last season, though it sounds like his speed is what's really making an impression so far.
Jul 30, 2023
Slated to practice Sunday
Williams (leg) is scheduled to take part in Sunday's practice, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Williams missed the Lions' first four sessions of training camp with a leg injury, but he'll be on the field Sunday for what's expected to be a light practice involving limited contact. Given that Williams missed most of his rookie season in 2022 while recovering from a torn ACL, the Lions may elect to proceed cautiously with easing him back to full practice. Even if he's not cleared to play in the Aug. 11 preseason opener versus the Giants, Williams should be back up to full speed at some point during the three-game exhibition slate, barring any setbacks. The 22-year-old will still have to sit out the first six games of the regular season for violating the NFL's gambling policy, and he won't be eligible to take part in Lions practices from Weeks 1 through 3.
Jul 25, 2023
Dealing with minor leg injury
Coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday he expects Williams (leg/suspension) to miss "a day or two" of practice due to a leg injury, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Williams suffered a leg injury in practice, so it's encouraging that he won't have to miss much of the early portion of training camp. The second-year pro needs all the reps he can get, as his recovery from ACL surgery limited him to a depth role in just six appearances as a rookie, and he will need to miss the first six games of the 2023 season due to a suspension for violation of the NFL's gambling policy. Williams is expected to handle a starting role alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown once he's served his suspension, and if the 2022 first-round pick is going to hit the ground running he'll likely need to make the most of training camp.
May 25, 2023
Making progress entering Year 2
Coach Dan Campbell said Thursday that Williams (suspension) is "miles ahead of where he was last year" and praised his activity in OTAs, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Williams wasn't able to participate in last year's offseason activities due to a torn ACL, but per Twentyman he's now made significant improvements, with Campbell singling out his route running in particular. The speedster's ACL recovery hindered his production as a rookie, limiting him to just one catch (a 41-yard touchdown) in six appearances, in addition to one carry that went for another 40 yards. Now back to full health, Williams' big-play skillset could set him up as an extremely productive contributor in Detroit's offense alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown, but he'll first need to fully serve his six-game suspension for violation of the NFL's gambling policy.
Apr 21, 2023
Given six-game suspension
The NFL announced Friday that Williams will be suspended six games for violation of the league's gambling policy, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Williams and Stanley Berryhill are being handed six-game suspensions for violating the NFL's gambling policy, while C.J. Moore, Quintez Cephus and Shaka Toney are receiving indefinite suspensions, minimum one year. Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports that the incident involving Williams and Berryhill occurred within team facilities, and involved online betting on non-NFL games. The surprising development throws a wrench in projecting Williams' prospects for the 2023 campaign, as he had been a popular breakout candidate after coming off a rookie season largely lost to injury. Though now fully recovered from his ACL tear, Williams will now have to wait at least six games before being able to get on the field and produce in the 2023 regular season.
Jan 12, 2023
Big play wiped out by penalty
Williams played 14 of the Lions' 60 snaps on offense and failed to reel in his lone target in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Packers.
ANALYSIS
Though he went without any official receptions in the regular-season finale, Williams provided a glimpse of his vast potential on what would have been a 66-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter that was ultimately wiped out by a holding penalty. On the play in question, Williams found an opening in the defense behind Packers safety Darnell Savage, then jetted past Green Bay safety Adrian Amos on his way to what would have been his second career touchdown and third 40-plus-yard play. After the rookie first-round pick was cleared to make his season debut Week 13 upon completing his recovery from an ACL tear suffered this past January, Williams played less than a quarter of the snaps on offense in each of his six appearances while hauling in just one of his nine targets. Despite Williams' light use coming off the knee injury, general manager Brad Holmes said Tuesday that he maintains high expectations for the No. 12 overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft heading into Year 2, per John Maakaron of SI.com. How
Jan 1, 2023
Big rushing gain
Williams rushed once for 40 yards during Sunday's 41-10 win over Chicago.
ANALYSIS
Williams broke loose for a long rushing gain but otherwise remained a fringe contributor to the Lions offense. Don't count on the promising rookie for fantasy production when Detroit travels to Green Bay in Week 18.
Dec 25, 2022
Workload not increasing
Williams was targeted once but did not catch a pass during Saturday's loss to Carolina.
ANALYSIS
Williams again logged less than 20 percent of the snaps with Detroit seemingly keen on not putting too much on his plate early on in his career. With this unlikely to change over the final two games of the season, the Alabama product will remain off the fantasy radar in Week 17 against Chicago.
Dec 18, 2022
Remains in small role
Williams was targeted once but did not catch a pass during Sunday's 20-17 win over the Jets.
ANALYSIS
The Lions simply don't seem willing to put too much on Williams' plate early on in his career. Not only did the explosive rookie again run behind a clear top trio of Amon-Ra St. Brown, DJ Chark and Josh Reynolds, but Williams has yet to overtake Kalif Raymond for the No. 4 role, either. It is entirely possible that fantasy managers will have to wait until next season before Williams can be counted on for statistical production.
Dec 12, 2022
TD on first career catch
Williams caught one of two targets for 41 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 34-23 win over Minnesota.
ANALYSIS
Williams looked like he could be in line for a big day after getting wide open for a long touchdown early on, but he ended up logging just 19 percent of the offensive snaps after seeing 11 percent in his professional debut last week. Meanwhile, Josh Reynolds (60 percent) remained the clear No. 3 option behind Amon-Ra St. Brown (87) and DJ Chark (85). While Williams could continue pushing Reynolds for a larger role down the stretch, Williams currently seems unlikely to be seeing enough playing time to be a reliable fantasy option.
Dec 5, 2022
Tiny role in pro debut
Williams was targeted once but did not catch a pass during Sunday's 40-14 win over the Jaguars.
ANALYSIS
After talk of Williams potentially seeing time on special teams in his professional debut, the rookie was contained to just eight snaps on offense. Meanwhile, Amon-Ra St. Brown and DJ Chark each had their way with the Jaguars secondary in the blowout victory, giving the Lions no reason to rush Williams into heavy snaps. With that said, there is no denying the dynamic element that Williams could bring to the table as a third receiver in Detroit's offense, so look for Williams' role to only grow as the season goes on. Next up is a Week 14 matchup with a beatable Vikings secondary.
Dec 4, 2022
Special teams work too
Not only will Williams (knee) get eased into the offense, but he'll also see some work as a 'gunner' on special teams, Jay Glazer reported on the Fox Sunday morning pregame show.
ANALYSIS
Why the Lions would expose a key asset like Williams in special teams coverage under normal circumstances is questionable at best, but with him returning from a knee injury, this seems like a bad idea.
Dec 4, 2022
Facing limited snaps in debut
Williams (knee), who was activated from the reserve/non-football injury list Saturday, is expected to be on a "very limited snap count" in his NFL debut Sunday against the Jaguars, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
The Lions envision the No. 12 overall pick in this year's draft filling a major role on offense over the long haul, but he'll be eased back into the mix Sunday after having suffered a torn ACL during his final collegiate game at Alabama back in January. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kalif Raymond and DJ Chark are likely to continue serving as Detroit's main three receivers this week, but Williams should have a decent chance at jumping Raymond and Chark on the depth chart by season's end if he remains free of setbacks with his knee while he gradually ramps up his snap count in the weeks to come.
Dec 3, 2022
Set for debut
Williams (knee) was activated off the reserve/non-football injury list Saturday and is expected to play in Sunday's matchup against the Jaguars, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
It's unclear how much Williams will actually play as the Lions are arguably the healthiest they've been all season at wide receiver, but given the team was pressed against a deadline with this activation, there's clearly some plan to involve the Alabama product. The rookie receiver hasn't played since tearing his ACL back in November, but when healthy could be regarded as one of the more electric playmakers in the entire league. Expect Williams to easily gain a foothold on a top-three WR spot once he's eventually deemed capable of commanding a full snap share.
Dec 2, 2022
Uncertain for Sunday
Coach Dan Campbell said Friday morning that the Lions hadn't made a decision on Williams (knee) for Sunday's game against the Jaguars, James Palmer of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Campbell said Monday it would be a "tall order" for Williams to play, but the Lions apparently are considering it... or at least giving their opponent that impression. The rookie returned to practice last Monday and is now almost 11 months removed from his ACL tear, so it won't be too surprising if he's activated from injured reserve Friday or Saturday to play in Sunday's game. If not, Williams' next chances to play will be Week 14 against Minnesota and Week 15 at the Jets. He'll likely be a part-time player for at least his first game, competing for perimeter snaps with DJ Chark, Kalif Raymond and Josh Reynolds.
Nov 28, 2022
Week 13 return not likely
Coach Dan Campbell suggested Monday that it "would be a tall order" for Williams (knee) to play Sunday against the Jaguars, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
ANALYSIS
Though Campbell hasn't completely closed the door on the possibility of Williams -- who returned to practice last Monday -- being activated from the reserve/non-football injury list ahead of the contest, it appears as though a potential Week 14 return is a more realistic outcome for the rookie wideout. In the meantime, Amon-Ra St. Brown, DJ Chark and Kalif Raymond are line to continue to lead the Lions' wideout corps, with Josh Reynolds and Tom Kennedy mixing in.
Nov 24, 2022
Nearing return, but not ready yet
Williams (knee) will not be activated from the reserve/non-football injury list for Thursday's contest against the Bills, but he could make his season debut as early as Week 13, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Detroit designated Williams for a return to practice Monday, but the rookie first-round pick hasn't yet gone full-speed during drills and never seemed like a realistic candidate to play Thanksgiving Day. Williams is on track to ramp up to a full practice workload next week, and it sounds as though as long as he avoids any setbacks, he could make his NFL debut as early as Dec. 04 versus the Jaguars. On a bright note for Thanksgiving Day, Josh Reynolds (back) is expected to be available for the Lions, per Rapoport.
Nov 21, 2022
Designated for return to practice
The Lions announced Monday that Williams (knee) has been designated for a return from the reserve/NFI list.
ANALYSIS
Williams isn't expected to be a candidate for action during this week's Thanksgiving Day contest against the Bills, but the transaction is a sign that the rookie first-round pick is nearing full health after suffering a left ACL tear in January during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, while playing for Alabama. Detroit will have a 21-day window to evaluate Williams at practice without his counting against the 53-man roster, and he can be activated at any time in that span. Once back to full health, Williams profiles to handle a significant role alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown atop the Lions' receiving corps.
Nov 16, 2022
Likely for post-Thanksgiving debut
Coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday that he expects Williams (knee) to be designated for a return from IR at some point after Thanksgiving, making Week 13 versus the Jaguars his earliest possible return date, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Campbell said it's possible that Williams practices before Thanksgiving, but that he doesn't expect the rookie first-round pick to do so, much less take the field Nov. 24 versus Buffalo even if he is activated in time. Woodard reports that Campbell offered either Week 13 versus Jacksonville or Week 14 against the Giants as more realistic return targets for Williams, who Detroit has avoided rushing back from his left ACL tear. The Lions have designated DJ Chark (ankle) to resume practicing Wednesday, so the receiving corps stands to receive a boost even before Williams is ready to contribute.
Oct 26, 2022
At least a month from return
Coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday that Williams (knee) is at least a month away from returning from his ACL rehab, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Williams remains on the the reserve/NFI list, where he began the season due to an ACL tear suffered in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in January. The rookie first-round pick still hasn't resumed practicing, and it looks as though the earliest possible timetable for his NFL debut is late November or potentially in December. The Lions could also have DJ Chark (ankle) back from IR by the time Williams is ready to contribute, which would put the team's starting receiver trio alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown (head) at full health.
Oct 19, 2022
Not ready to come off NFI list
Williams (knee), who is bouncing back from a torn ACL, isn't ready yet to return from the reserve/NFI list, Jeff Risdon of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS
That said, coach Dan Campbell noted Wednesday that the wideout has "turned the corner over the last month," while adding that the Lions are "pretty optimistic" that the 2022 first-rounder will play at some point this season. Williams -- who suffered his knee injury last January during the National Championship Game -- thus remains without a concrete timetable for a potential return to game action.
Oct 5, 2022
Won't return until after bye
Williams (knee) is making progress, but coach Dan Campbell said the Lions won't designate him to return from the reserve/NFI list until after their Week 6 bye, Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire reports.
ANALYSIS
While he technically could come off the NFI list and play as soon as Week 5, there was never much expectation of the first-round pick contributing before the bye. Early feedback from Chris Godwin and Michael Gallup provides hope Williams can earn a role by midseason, as the two veteran wideouts (both of whom played Week 4) suffered ACL tears not long before Williams fell to the same injury in the CFP National Championship Game. Once he's ready, Williams will challenge for the perimeter snaps that have mostly gone to DJ Chark and Josh Reynolds so far.
Sep 2, 2022
No timetable for return
General manager Brad Holmes didn't offer a timetable for Williams' (knee) return to game action, Benjamin Raven of MLive.com reports. "You got to be a little bit conservative and on the safer side when it comes to forecasts and those returns to play. But hopefully, he stays on track, and hopefully it's sooner than later, but we're going to continue to be smart with him," Holmes said.
ANALYSIS
After tearing his ACL last January during the national championship game, Williams has progressed well in his recovery and recently posted a video of himself running and cutting on a turf field, per Williams' Instagram account via Vox Media. However, even though it looks like the rookie is getting close to being ready, Williams will spend at least the first four games of the season on the NFI list, and it seems like Detroit is prepared to hold him out longer if need be. With DJ Chark and Amon-Ra St. Brown atop the depth chart with Josh Reynolds, Quintez Cephus and Kalif Raymond providing solid depth behind them, the Lions can afford to do so as long as everyone else stays healthy.
Aug 23, 2022
Placed on reserve/NFI list
Williams (knee) has been placed on the Reserve/NFI list by the Lions.
ANALYSIS
Williams tore his ACL on Jan. 10, so it's not a surprise that he won't be ready to start the coming season. Tuesday's transaction ensures that the No. 12 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft will miss at least the Lions' first four contests. In his absence, the team's wideout corps will be led by Amon-Ra St. Brown and DJ Chark.
Aug 11, 2022
Won't be ready Week 1
Williams (knee) won't be ready for Week 1, though the Lions are pleased with his rehab progress, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Tampa's Chris Godwin tentatively appears on track for Week 1 after tearing his ACL in December, but guys who suffered the same injury any later than that -- notably Williams and Dallas WR Michael Gallup -- are expected to miss at least a game or two at the beginning of the season. In Williams' case, a cautious approach is especially likely given that he's rookie on a team that's considered a longshot for the playoffs. He'd be ruled out for the first four weeks of the season if the Lions were to leave him on the non-football injury list at the end of the preseason. Williams was the 12th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, making him the fourth receiver off the board less than four months after he suffered an ACL tear in the FBS National Championship Game.
Jul 24, 2022
Placed on non-football injury list
The Lions placed Williams (knee) on the active/NFI list Sunday.
ANALYSIS
As expected, Williams won't be ready for the start of training camp and will instead continue his rehab from the ACL surgery he had in January. After investing the 12th overall pick on the wideout, the Lions will likely continue to exercise the utmost caution, but when the rookie is eventually cleared, he'll form a potentially dynamic trio with Amon-Ra St. Brown and DJ Chark.
Jun 9, 2022
Looking unlikely for start of camp
Coach Dan Campbell (knee) said Thursday "I don't see" Williams (knee) being ready for the start of training camp, Chris Burke of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Campbell said he's "very hopeful" about Williams, but that he doesn't expect the rookie first-round pick to be ready for the start of training camp. Still, that leaves a potential window for Williams to return to the field at some point in camp, and the idea of him suiting up at some point during the first months of the regular season has been floated previously. Williams is coming off a left ACL tear suffered back in January, and when ready for game action, he stands to join Amon-Ra St. Brown and DJ Chark atop Detroit's wide receiver depth chart.
Jun 7, 2022
Not practicing to start minicamp
Williams (knee) isn't practicing during Tuesday's mandatory minicamp, Jeremy Reisman of SB Nation reports.
ANALYSIS
This isn't surprising given the rookie tore his ACL during the National Championship Game in January. Williams will be roughly eight months removed from the initial injury when the 2022 regular season kicks off and has already targeted training camp as a potential return date. However, the Lions are expected to be extremely cautious with their first-round pick, so while there's optimism Williams to be available Week 1, he likely won't make an impact right away.
May 20, 2022
Early-season return possible
Williams (knee) could have "a realistic timeframe" to make his NFL debut "late September early October," Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Williams will be roughly eight months removed from having torn his left ACL when the 2022 regular season kicks off, and such injuries generally carry a recovery timeframe of at least nine months. However, the orthopedic surgeon who oversaw Williams' procedure recently indicated that the former Alamaba star's injury may have been less severe than most ACL tears, which led to Williams receiving a 5-to-7 month timeline. Williams has said he's targeting a return to on-field activity by training camp in August, which could be possible as long as he avoids any setbacks. Expectations for Williams to be available Week 1 could still be optimistic, but Twentyman said he believes the rookie first-round pick could be "on the field and making an impact" by Week 4.
May 4, 2022
Surgeon provides hope
The orthopedic surgeon who led Williams' (knee) reconstructive ACL surgery indicated that the receiver's knee injury did not involve damage to other ligaments, and it is possible that Williams could gain medical clearance ahead of training camp, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports. "Jameson's goal is to play first preseason game, obviously. I told him, I said, 'Look, depending on which team you go to, most teams are probably - they're going to be very conservative. You've got to understand that,'
ANALYSIS
It initially seemed highly optimistic for Williams to be ready for training camp this summer considering he underwent knee surgery six-and-a-half months earlier. However, it sounds like his knee injury was not as severe as many of them tend to be, which led doctors to prescribe a 5-to-7 month timeline for recovery that would align with the start of training camp. The fact that Williams has already resumed running and regaining the range of motion in his knee provides evidence that this recovery is going smoothly. With that said, Williams could remain setback-free and the Lions' coaching staff might still take a conservative approach with his return to the field come training camp. Fantasy managers should prepare accordingly, as it remains a possibility that Williams starts the 2022 campaign on the sidelines.
Apr 30, 2022
Targeting training camp return
Williams (knee) is hoping to participate in training camp, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Williams tore his ACL on Jan. 10 and will be over seven months removed from surgery by the time training camp commences this summer. Despite modern advancements in medical treatments, expecting him to be ready for the start of training camp seems optimistic, and it's not certain that he will even be able to work himself into individual drills before the preseason begins. In the end, fantasy managers will likely need to be patient with Williams as a rookie, with Meinke noting that the receiver most likely won't be ready for game action until October.