The Detroit Lions have been fairly healthy on offense to start the 2026 season, but one of the most important cases they will be watching involves their running back room.
Isiah Pacheco is out indefinitely after having back surgery, which means the Lions will be rolling with Jahmyr Gibbs and not much else behind him. The team has featured Sione Vaki as the primary backup, and Jacob Saylors in the mix. Neither has impressed much or earned significant touches.
Both of those players are significantly untested, and after Gibbs dominated touches in Week 1, there's a thought that the Lions may not want to stress their top runner in such a way. But who is available on the free-agent market who could take the load off?
The Lions have looked at Kareem Hunt, but haven't signed him. Outside of that, there are names such as Austin Ekeler, Antonio Gibson and others still available. Another name further off the radar may have come full circle in the form of Jamaal Williams.
After leaving the Lions before 2023 to go to the New Orleans Saints, Williams remains a free agent, and up until now, seemed to be content out of football. That's changed in a big way with the evolution of Detroit's current running back situation.
For the last few weeks, Williams has been planting the seeds that he might crave a comeback to the NFL.
As Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press first reported, Williams has contacted Dan Campbell about a possible return to the Lions. It's unclear where things stand with the franchise, but at the very least, Williams seems interested in returning.
Jamaal Williams recently sent message to free agents that applies to himself
On Jordan Schultz's Schultz Report podcast, Williams opened up about the message he would send to free agents who can still play. As he said, as long as physically possible, players should continue to play the game they love.
"I say this for the free agents, because I understand how it is to be a free agent. If you get calls to walk-on, anything that gives you an opportunity to go play, keep playing. The people who are thinking about giving up on football, if you know you can still play, please keep playing," Williams said.
"Play until you know that you can't anymore, because that love for football is just a different breed. If you can play, please play and play with the gratefulness that your body allows you to play the game, because this game is not forever. Play with respect. Love the game, love yourself, and don't give up on yourself if you know you can make it."
It's important to remember the Lions let Williams walk after a contract dispute in the 2023 offseason. They drafted Gibbs, signed David Montgomery, and never looked back. Williams, meanwhile, struggled with the Saints, putting up just 470 yards and two touchdowns in two seasons.
Williams is 31 now, and would be well-rested if not rusty considering he's been out of the league since 2024. The Lions haven't shown a willingness to shake things up at running back since Pacheco's injury, so it's likely they will continue to roll with Gibbs and his backups before making an outside signing.
Still, it's notable that Williams could want back into the mix with the Lions. He already holds the team record for most touchdowns in a season for a running back (17). Additionally, he could offer a stable veteran presence to the locker room as well as a player who knows the coaching staff and roster at a time of potentially intense need.
Obviously, Williams wishes to play football again and is getting the familiar itch on his part. He sees the Lions as a team in a good position that also might have a massive need for him. Whether this leads to a reunion is anybody's guess, but as of now, the word is out that Williams wants back in.
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