ALLEN PARK — It’s possible that former Detroit Lions running back Jamaal Williams is back in Detroit this week.
But it wouldn’t be to make a return to play for the Lions after spending the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the team.
The eight-year NFL veteran is looking for his next team after being released by the New Orleans Saints and had a workout with the Miami Dolphins on Monday.
If he signed with the Dolphins soon, he could take part in either of Miami’s joint practices on Wednesday or Thursday with the Lions or potentially play in Saturday’s preseason game at Ford Field.
Williams, 30, has also worked out for the Chicago Bears, recently.
A fourth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2017 out of BYU, Williams was a fairly productive back and solid pass catcher for the first few years of his career.
He broke through with a huge 2022 season with the Lions, posting a career-high 1,066 rushing yards and leading the league in rushing scores with 17, which is also a franchise record.
Williams became a fan favorite, combining with D’Andre Swift as one of the best backfield tandems in the league.
After the season, the Lions expressed interest in re-signing Williams, but failed to come to terms and he left for New Orleans. Williams said the offer he received from the Lions was “disrespectful” and inked a three-year, $12 million contract.
He still professed his admiration for the city and his teammates even after he signed elsewhere.
“It’s all love (for Detroit),” Williams told reporters in New Orleans. “Like, I know my teammates, everybody there at the Detroit Lions got love for me and all that. But at the same time, we couldn’t come to terms, and — it’s just funny, that’s all.”
While he faced Detroit in 2023 on the Saints’ roster, he hasn’t returned to compete in the city since his departure.
His usage dropped over the last two years, getting just 48 carries in 14 games last season, ending in his release.
Following the news Miami’s Alexander Mattison required season-ending neck surgery, Williams appears to be a contender to join the Dolphins’ running back room.
If the Dolphins need to get him involved quickly, it’s possible he gets his feet wet for the 2025 season against his former team this week.
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