No Excuses, Jameson Williams Puts Major Dent in Lions' 2023 Plans

Jameson Williams made an unfortunate mistake at the worst time for the Detroit Lions.

The Detroit Lions were the darlings of the National Football League.

For once, the rhetoric surrounding the organization revolved around winning and developing the culture the right way.

Detroit general manager Brad Holmes made bold moves during free agency, bringing several highly regarded free agents to the Motor City. In his effort to bolster the talent level of the team's roster, he won over a large number of national pundits.

With less than a week until the NFL Draft, which offers another opportunity for the team to get better, the Lions have become clouded with scandal.

The team was poised to have one of its most successful seasons in franchise history. Ahead of the very anticipated season, a young player on the roster, who was expected to emerge on the field, could have just jeopardized the season with actions taken at the practice facility.

Four players, including touted wide receiver Jameson Williams, were suspended a week ahead of the draft, as a result of the NFL's investigation regarding potential gambling violations.

Just 24 hours after Holmes explained at his pre-draft media session that team did not want to bring in players who would embarrass the organization, actions taken by multiple members of the roster and the staff have put the team in the national spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

Williams and fellow wide receiver Stanley Berryhill Jr. received six-game bans. Meanwhile, wideout Quintez Cephus and safety C.J. Moore were suspended indefinitely, and subsequently released by the team. 

To be clear, Williams and Berryhill were dealt lesser punishments due to not betting on NFL games. Though the decision to suspend them is trivial given the league's partnerships with gambling companies, ultimately rules are rules.

The league plainly states that making mobile wagers at team facilities is against the rules. When Williams and Berryhill did so, they committed violations, and were punished as a result.

Cephus and Moore received indefinite bans, after it was found they placed bets on NFL games.

The second-year Alabama product in Williams stands to lose $6.877 million in guaranteed money as a result of his suspension. His representation at Alliance Sports has already issued an apology on his behalf.

This season was shaping up to be an exciting one for Williams. He missed the first 12 games of his rookie campaign while rehabbing a torn ACL that he suffered in college.

His overall production in 2022 was minimal. However, a 41-yard touchdown against Minnesota and a 40-yard run on a reverse against Chicago left fans wanting more in 2023.

Prior to his suspension, many supporters had started to quietly question Williams' maturity.

Holmes reiterated his belief in the young receiver's abilities at the NFL Scouting Combine. Still, he maintained that both parties would have to do their part in ensuring his success.

“We didn’t know really how much we were gonna get out of him (as a rookie), but it was good to have him get some kind of game experience to kind of feel the speed of the game,” Holmes said. “We’re just gonna continue to do everything that we need to do to make sure that he’s set up to succeed. Jameson also has to hold his part and make sure that he’s doing everything that he needs to do. So, it’s always an accountability factor on both sides, but we expect big things from him. He’s got rare talent, rare ability. He’s got a serious passion for the game. We expect big things from him. But, obviously, we’ve got to do both our parts to make sure he’s successful.”

In light of the organization wanting Jameson to become a responsible professional, his actions are indicative of a player who has yet to understand the meaning of being a high-profile athlete on a high-profile NFL team.

Now, an extreme lapse in judgement will cost him the first six games of his second year. This has negative consequences for both he and the team as a whole.

For starters, this means Williams will, at most, play in just 17 of a possible 34 games in his first two NFL seasons. With a quiet 2022 campaign, he'll need to produce significantly over the final 11 games in 2023, to build confidence about his future.

The organization will now also need to consider adding a premium talent at the position moving forward. The loss of D.J Chark in free agency created a need, one that has now been amplified.

Marvin Jones is a veteran, but at 33 years old, he is not going to light up the stat sheet like the talented wideout would have. 

The Lions have met with some of the top prospects in the upcoming Draft. Among them is TCU's Quinten Johnston, who spoke with the team at the combine.

Williams has an opportunity to learn from and grow as a result of this mistake. He still has plenty of potential moving forward, and will have the chance to showcase his talents beginning in Week 7 at the earliest.

This unfortunate consequence will cast a shadow, though. The pressure will be on him to contribute right away. The team cannot afford another slow start, if it wants to reach its goal of winning the NFC North title.