Detroit Lions receiver Jameson Williams accepted a two-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy on Thursday, meaning the speedy playmaker will miss upcoming games against the Tennessee Titans and Green Bay Packers over the next two weeks.
The absence of Williams in Week 9 will make defending the explosive Lions offense a little bit easier for Jeff Hafley and the Packers.
Williams, a 2022 first-round pick, is second on the Lions offense in both receiving yards (361) and receiving touchdowns (3). He is averaging 21.2 yards per catch and 12.0 yards per target. Also a threat as a runner, Williams has carried eight times for 101 yards and a touchdown during his three-year NFL career.
Williams has three catches of 40 or more yards in 2024, which ranks tied for third among all players. He ranks second in the NFL in yards per catch.
Williams has appeared in only two games against the Packers. He played 15 snaps but didn’t catch a pass during the Lions’ 20-16 win over the Packers in 2022, and he caught two passes for 51 yards while playing 53 snaps in the Packers’ 29-22 win on Thanksgiving Day last season.
Losing Williams doesn’t mean the Lions will be weapon-less come next Sunday at Lambeau Field. Running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and tight end Sam LaPorta give quarterback Jared Goff and playcaller Ben Johnson plenty of high-level weaponry.