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Jameson Williams won’t be ready start of Lions training camp

By Jacob Cox

Dec 31, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) runs with the ball as Cincinnati Bearcats safety Bryan Cook (6) defends during the second half in the 2021 Cotton Bowl college football CFP national semifinal game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) runs with the ball as Cincinnati Bearcats safety Bryan Cook (6) defends during the second half in the 2021 Cotton Bowl college football CFP national semifinal game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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As expected, Lions rookie wide receiver Jameson Williams won’t be practicing at the start of training camp.

The Detroit Lions are getting for the start of training camp this coming week. As was expected, rookie wide receiver Jameson Williams won’t quite be ready to take part in (at least) the first full camp practice on Wednesday.

On Sunday, Williams was placed on the NFI (non-football injury) list as the Lions placed a total of five players on the NFI or PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list.

Williams is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in January’s national title game playing for Alabama.

Lions general manager Brad Holmes broke his previous philosophy about not drafting injured players in the first round with the move up to No.12 to take Williams in April. Back in June, head coach Dan Campbell acknowledged the team will take it slowly with the highly-touted rookie’s recovery by suggesting Williams was unlikely to be ready for the start of camp.

Although Williams will start training camp on the NFI list, he can be removed from the list at any point in the coming weeks and practice immediately.

If Williams is unable participate at all during training camp, expect the Lions to keep him on the NFI list to start the regular season. That would mean he won’t be able to play in at least the first four games of the season.

When Jameson Williams is ready, he could be a real difference maker for the Lions

In his lone season for the Crimson Tide, Williams had 79 catches for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns (19.9 yards a catch). In eight of the fourteen games, he had a reception for at least 50 yards.

If he hadn’t torn his ACL, Williams may well have been the first wide receiver off the board in April’s draft.

Regarding the aforementioned philosophy about injured players, Holmes said he wanted to have an open mind. He took a risk, and possibly got what we’ll look back on as the steal of the 2022 draft.

Even in possibly a limited role in his first few games, Williams’ mere presence on the field will be an interesting development. On paper, the Lions’ offense will be better the second he takes the field as a field-stretching threat.

But for now, the wait is on for Williams to take the practice field.

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