Big things are expected from Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams in 2024. Entering his third season, Williams is healthy and fully available, something he hasn’t been as the start of his first two campaigns.
The Lions need Williams to step up and prove why they traded up to select him in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. His meager output thus far–25 career receptions–needs to significantly uptick if coordinator Ben Johnson’s offense is to remain elite. “Jamo” has provided a lot of reason to believe that will happen with an impressive training camp and overall offseason.
Johnson is a big believer that the strong summer showing from Williams will carry into the season. In his weekly media address on Thursday, Johnson gushed over his confidence level in No. 9.
“As high as it’s ever been and continuing to climb,” Johnson quickly and enthusiastically replied. “The more reps, the more time we get together on the field, the better I feel about him. He’s grown in so many ways, on and off the field. As a player, as a route runner, as a receiver, and then off the field just his preparation, how he’s taking care of his body, his demeanor with his teammates and interactions with them.”
Drops have remained an issue at times in practices, but Johnson isn’t worried. He’s seeing the progress he wants to see.
“He’s come a very long way, and so he’s just going to continue to grow, and the more reps he gets — he’s going to make mistakes and he’s going to learn from them. And that’s the best thing, most encouraging thing we’ve seen is, since he’s been out on the field, he rarely makes the same mistake twice.”
Williams speed is a force multiplier in the Lions offense. Safeties have to respect his rare speed, and that can make life a whole lot easier for QB Jared Goff, All-Pro WR Amon-Ra St. Brown and the rest of the passing offense. Yet Johnson believes Williams will be more than just a show of speed. He sees opportunities for Goff and Williams to thrive over the top together.
I think he’s got that rare ability in this league to take the top off the coverage. And so, if we can get him over the top, if it presents itself, those opportunities, I think Jared (Goff) is a lot more comfortable in knowing where he’s going to be and how he needs to throw those balls down the field to take advantage of that. But we’ll see what the coverage dictates.”