As his debut creeps closer, a Thanksgiving morning report suggests there’s a good chance Lions rookie receiver Jameson Williams plays in Week 13.
In line with the timeline professed by head coach Dan Campbell that he’d make his NFL debut in December, Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver Jameson Williams began practicing on Monday.
That opened the 21-day window to put him on the active roster, but a light practice week ahead of playing on Thanksgiving Day assured Williams would not play in Week 12 against the Buffalo Bills. But with extra time after that game, and with a normal practice week to come next week, Williams playing in Week 13 against the Jacksonville Jaguars feels very possible.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Thursday morning, that Week 13 debut seems very likely.
"The #Lions obviously won’t have rookie WR Jameson Williams today, but as he looks to return from a torn ACL in college, he’s coming soon. This week’s wasn’t a full-speed practice, but next week’s will be. If he makes it through unscathed, there is a good chance he’s activated."
The #Lions obviously won't have rookie WR Jameson Williams today, but as he looks to return from a torn ACL in college, he's coming soon. This week's wasn't a full-speed practice, but next week's will be. If he makes it through unscathed, there is a good chance he's activated.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 24, 2022
Lions rookie wide receiver Jameson Williams tentatively in line to make debut in Week 13
On Tuesday, during his weekly appearance on 97.1 The Ticket’s “Stoney and Jansen Show”, Campbell expanded to point to what Williams needs to show before he’s activated. All of it is fairly obvious, but still important to note.
"Just a comfort level around bodies, his change of direction as it pertains to defensive backs on him, quarterback throwing the ball,” “You just want to know that that’s something he can get used to or accustomed to fast enough.It’s different to do things on grass or on air with nobody else around or in a competitive setting. That’s where we need to get to before we feel real good. And then we want him to feel comfortable with it, too.”"
A fully ramped up, normal practice week next week will be the final test for Williams to pass before he’s added to the 53-man roster. If he emerges “unscathed”, to use Rapoport’s word, he’ll surely play against the Jaguars. And if not then, barring a substantial setback, Williams would then make his debut in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings.