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Dan Campbell: Lions 'prepared to not have' Jameson Williams for 2-game suspension
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- Dan Campbell: Lions 'prepared to not have' Jameson Williams for 2-game suspension
The Detroit Lions are prepared to lose wide receiver Jameson Williams to a two-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancing substances, though Lions coach Dan Campbell declined to elaborate on the punishment during his weekly radio interview Tuesday.
"I can't really say anything about it till the league gives judgment and it comes out on their end, I'm not supposed to really comment on it," Campbell said on WXYT-FM. "All I can tell you is we're prepared to not have him and we'll be fine."
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) celebrates a touchdown in the second half of the Detroit Lions season opener against the Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field in Detroit, on Sunday, Sept. 8. 2024.
ESPN reported late Monday that Williams faces a two-game suspension for violating the policy, and Williams told the network by text he has "no choice but to take it on the chin."
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A team source apprised of the pending punishment confirmed the ban to the Free Press.
Williams is in the midst of a breakout season with Lions and has been a key part to their offense as a deep threat who often dictates how defenses play in coverage.
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He ranks second on the team with 361 yards receiving on 17 catches, second in the NFL at 21.2 yards per catch and has three touchdowns this year of 52, 70 and 37 yards.
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said last week that defenses had started to cover Williams differently because of his speed.
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"I think people are starting to realize we don't want to single him up, defenses don't want to single him up cause he will make them pay," Johnson said. "They're not as fast as him, it's as simple as that. Hopefully we continue to get these one-on-one matchups because we are so dynamic elsewhere as well.
"I think early on in (the Dallas Cowboys game), they had the philosophy to play more two-high (coverage) to limit guys like Jameson and we saw what our run game did early on in that game. And then they start coming down and Jamo gets some great access looks in man-to-man and he's able to take advantage of it. We played the game of how much attention are they going to pay to him and the moment they give too much to him then we'll go other way but the moment they single him up we'll make them pay."
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) reacts with wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) after catching a 35 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jared Goff (not pictured) against the Minnesota Vikings the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2024.
The Lions host the Tennessee Titans (1-5) this week before visiting the Green Bay Packers (5-2) on Nov. 3 in a key NFC North showdown.
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If Williams is not on the field, Campbell said the Lions will rely more heavily on their offensive skill players like Amon-Ra St. Brown , Kalif Raymond , Tim Patrick and the running backs.
Patrick has played as the Lions' No. 3 receiver most of the season, and Allen Robinson could enter the playing rotation behind Raymond while Williams is out.
A first-round pick out of Alabama in 2022, Williams has had a rocky start to his NFL career.
He missed most of his rookie season while rehabbing from a torn ACL he suffered in college and was suspended six games (later reduced to four) to start last season for violating the league's gambling policy by placing bets on non-NFL games from the Lions' Allen Park facility.
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Williams already has more touchdowns (three) and yards (361) than he did in 2023, when he caught 24 passes for 354 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games.
The Lions rank second in the NFL in total offense and third in passing and points per game.
"We'll be fine," Campbell said in his radio interview. "We'll move on when this thing comes down, if it does, when it comes down. We'll be fine."
Dave Birkett will sign copies of his new book, " Detroit Lions : An Illustrated Timeline" from 5:30-7 p.m., Tuesday at Stadium Cards & Comics in Ypsilanti. Order your copy here.
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Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jameson Williams suspension: Lions 'prepared to not have' WR
