The Detroit Lions appear to have unlocked the full potential of wide receiver Jameson Williams.
Known for his explosive speed, Williams is on the verge of reaching 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career. With 967 yards and one game left, the Alabama product has the opportunity to hit that milestone.
A first-round pick in 2022, Williams is confident in his abilities. When asked if there was anything he felt he couldn’t do, the wideout was straightforward.
“I can do everything,” Williams said, flashing a smile. “I can do everything.”
Attention to Detail Pays Off
A key factor in Williams’ breakout third season has been his evolving relationship with the coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson highlighted the wideout’s attention to detail and consistent improvement through practice.
“Yeah, it’s been a learning experience for everybody, I think. Since he got in the building here, it’s been all of us coaches,” Johnson said. “Coach Campbell, myself, (Antwaan Randle) El, all of us have been on board trying to have him understand the expectation and what we really need, what Jared (Goff) needs, what the O-line needs, what we all need for this whole thing to work and it’s taken a little bit of time, but it’s really taken off now at this point.
“He’s very detailed, very smart, very smart and that might go unnoticed, but you say something to him, and you coach him, and it hits him. He understands it and I think because he’s so smart, he’s able to really grasp what we’re trying to do and it’s just a matter of getting him all of the reps and all of the looks and he’s been really good here second half of the season.”
The next step for Williams will be to finish the season strong and play a key role in the postseason. From there, he can continue to improve in the offseason, solidifying his place among the NFL’s top wide receivers.
Every top wide receiver has a unique strength, and for Williams, it’s undoubtedly his speed. Yet, he has shown many signs of becoming a more well-rounded wideout than the one who entered Detroit as a rookie.
“He certainly has that ability. Obviously, his superpower is his speed and that’s shown up every game,” Johnson said. “Every game we’re looking to create space for him and get the ball in his hands so that he can have run after catch or get over the top of the defense and what we’ve seen from training camp until now is other parts of the game develop. Have a lot more trust in his route tree, that’s really grown over the course of the season, we try to challenge him with some new things every week that maybe he hasn’t done quite yet and I’m really excited to see how that expands. A full offseason of spring, training camp, healthy, no outside noise would continue his development in a good way.”
Life in the Spotlight
As his success has grown, Williams’ public profile has risen this year. He appeared on Scott Van Pelt’s show alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown after the Lions’ Week 17 win over the 49ers and had also been a guest on Amon-Ra St. Brown’s podcast.
While the spotlight may seem like a new experience, Williams shared on Thursday that he has always been in the limelight, even since his youth in St. Louis.
“I think I’ve always been in the spotlight, even since when I was a kid,” Williams said. “When I started playing football, we had one of the best teams in the city. It was almost like we were super stars when we were six years old, seven years old. The excitement we brung, we had the jerseys, we had everything. I think I’ve been part of the spotlight, it’s just like once you get in the spotlight, it’s nothing new. You don’t really pay attention to it, because you play football for yourself. The spotlight is just something that comes with it if you play the game good.”
