Detroit coach Dan Campbell expects wide receiver Jameson Williams “to be ready to roll” when the Lions play the Houston Texans on Sunday night even though the former Alabama All-American hasn’t played or practiced since Oct. 20.
The NFL suspended Williams for two weeks for violating the league’s Policy on Performance- Enhancing Substances.
While Williams was sidelined, Detroit defeated the Tennessee Titans 52-14 on Oct. 27 and the Green Bay Packers 24-14 on Sunday to raise their record to 7-1 for the 2024 NFL season.
With Williams’ suspension over, Campbell said the Lions wouldn’t be easing him back into action.
“He’s been here,” Campbell said on Monday. “He couldn’t be out there at practice, but he was here training. We had him running. He’s in the meetings, all of that, so he’s really been here, and, honestly, we’re throwing him back in there. He’s going. We’re …” – and to emphasize his point, the coach stepped from behind the lectern to make a kicking motion – “Let’s go, so we’re going to kick him out there with the offense and get him going, man. I expect him to be ready to roll.”
In his third season since joining Detroit as a first-round draft pick, Williams has 17 receptions for 361 yards and three touchdowns and four rushing attempts for 34 yards in six games in 2024.
Williams and Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce are the only qualifying players averaging more than 20 yards per catch in 2024. All three of Williams’ touchdown receptions have covered at least 35 yards this season. The only players who can match that in the NFL this season are Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase with four and New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed with three.
The Lions and the Texans will square off at 7:20 p.m. CST Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston. NBC will televise the game.
While Williams is back from suspension, he has another off-the-field issue still pending.
The Wayne County (Michigan) Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing a request for a warrant to arrest Williams on a charge of carrying a concealed weapon in a motor vehicle.
The request comes during an internal review by the Detroit Police Department of a traffic stop involving Williams on Oct. 8, during which Williams was handcuffed and placed in a police car. Ultimately, after assistance arrived for the patrol officers and several phone calls were made, Williams was released.
