ALLEN PARK, MI — The Detroit Lions coaching staff is putting the football world on notice.
One of their young receivers isn’t just developing, he’s maturing and aims to become not only a pivotal offensive weapon, but a centerpiece of the offense in 2025.
That player? None other than wide receiver Jameson Williams.
Drafted 12th overall in 2022, Williams’ career up to this point has been rocky at times, marked by a mix of injury, suspension and most recently, a breakout season.
He missed a significant portion of his rookie year because of a knee injury. He then served a four-game suspension in 2023 for violating the NFL’s gambling policy.
Then in 2024, a breakout year where recorded his first 1,000-yard receiving season — 1,001 yards to be exact with seven touchdowns.
The Lions see so much promise in the young receiver, the team flexed his fifth-year option alongside Aidan Hutchinson, which shows their dedication to continuing to build on his somewhat untapped potential, in hopes of repeating and bettering his stats from last season.
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Williams has had a good spring, impressed with his versatility, which will, in turn, open up more opportunities for the offense.
“Oh my God, he’s got a ton of growth left. ... There’s so many things that we can do just with his routes on the outside,” Campbell said during a press conference at OTAs (Organized Team Activities) on May 30. “I mean, we can do things inside, but just with his speed and he’s gotten so much stronger, you know? His ability to stop, put his foot in the ground. Man, when you can run like he can run and now you you’re beginning to (see) where you can stop on a dime. You talk about a hard cover.
“The sky’s is the limit for him. He’s exactly where where we want him to be right now at this point. He’s been here. He’s grinding. He’s getting better. Scottie (Montgomery)’s freaking grinding him. It’s awesome. We expect him to have a huge season. We really do, man. He’s going to be one of these guys that we’re going to lean on this year, and is really going to be big for us. And all he’s got to do is just keep working like he’s working and and we’ll be good.”
Watch the videos above to hear from Campbell and Williams.
Williams was relaxed and poised while speaking with the media after OTAs.
His expectations of himself are “the usual,” Williams said, expecting to go out there and make the plays that come on his name.
Williams was modest, saying he just wants to help the team win games.
“Ever since I really (got) inspired into working hard as a kid, you know with my pops, I always had the same mindset to go out there and be the best, working hard,” Williams said. “My dad, he always text me like, ‘outwork everybody. No matter who it is, outwork everybody.’ So, you know, that’s just my mentality.
“I guess just going into year four, I got a little pep in my step. I’m becoming a vet, moving over from the rookie stage, and you know, I’m just ready to play more football and be more consistent for my team.”
Jameson Williams at 2025 OTAs
Detroit Lions wide receiver smiles as he walks off of the field while practicing alongside his teammates during OTAs on Friday, May 30, 2025 at the Detroit Lions training facility in Allen Park.Jake May | MLive.com
Williams said he’s hungry to get the ball and advance further in the playoffs after back-to-back years where the team fell short of a Super Bowl berth — first against San Francisco 49ers in 2023 and then against the Washington Commanders in 2024.
“(I’m) real hungry. I think people really don’t realize how bad it is until you get to that game where you’re one game away from the Super Bowl,” Williams said. “You know, that was the one that hurt me the most. I felt more hurt losing to (the 49ers) than I did to the Commanders because it was one game away. You know, it’s one play away. I guess, we’ve got a chip on our shoulder.
“Everybody remember it, but we (are) not dwelling on it. We’ve got a long season ahead of us, got big games this season. I’m kind of really moved on from the past, you know, but it’s still there just for that little chip of fire we need to go forward.”
As for his maturity, Williams said he’s a little older, and with that he sees that life and football can enrich each other, being a role model for rookies and building himself up at the same time.
“Just getting older and maturing myself, talking to more people, opening up to more people, getting more advice from everybody — that helped me a lot," Williams said.
When asked if he felt like a different guy, Williams said no.
“I’m still the same person,” Williams said. “I just got about a lot of things differently.”
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