Jared Goff: 'I Love Jamo'

The veteran quarterback discusses his connection with the talented wideout.

The Detroit Lions have a plethora of talent on the offensive side of the football. 

Quarterback Jared Goff found his groove during his second season with the organization. However, he'll begin the 2023 campaign without one of his top targets. 

Even though Jameson Williams will miss the start of the regular season, the speedy wideout is still able to get valuable practice reps during the Lions' offseason program. 

Detroit's offseason workout and practice regimen now provide the former No. 12 overall pick with a pivotal opportunity to get reps and build chemistry with the 28-year-old quarterback. 

For the veteran signal-caller, it's the same process he's dealt with when getting acclimated to new receivers each year. The duo connected on just one pass last year, but hopes are higher for Williams' production in 2023. 

"It's just like any other receiver, you know, it's just the same as any other guy that you're starting out with," Goff said. "And again, he's done a great job. And, we just constantly communicate. This is the same conversation I had last year about DJ (Chark) and the year before with the new guys that I was playing with. It's the same thing. You work with them and communicate. You tell them what you like, when you don't like, what you're seeing. And, he tells me the same thing, and we get on the same page." 

The key to building that chemistry is to consistently communicate and connect. The duo has struggled at times during open portions of workouts to link on passes, and at one point, the quarterback showed frustration with the receiver. 

However, each must continue to stay involved. Because Williams has missed time in the past, this offseason offers the two a prime opportunity to develop their relationship. 

"Just keeping him involved," Goff explained. "He's done a great job up to this point getting himself ready and just continuing to work. He didn't get the reps last year at this time, and being able to dive into some of the stuff has been so important for him and I. We can't wait to get him back. It's unfortunate what happened, but he's had a good attitude about it and he's approached it the right way."

Concerns emerged about the two's camaraderie when Williams liked a tweet suggesting the Lions acquire quarterback Lamar Jackson in the offseason. 

Much like his head coach Dan Campbell has done previously, Goff brushed away the thought that the action created any ill will within the locker room. 

"It's alright, he likes Lamar," Goff commented. "It's okay. I've got a lot of receivers I like, but I love Jamo and we're gonna have a whole lot of fun this year."