NFL insider suggests Jameson Williams will be available to Lions in Week 8

On Monday night, ESPN's Eric Woodyard reported Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams was facing a two-game suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substance policy.

Tuesday came and went without an official announcement from the league about Williams' suspension. His statement to Woodyard after the report of the suspension suggested an appeal was not coming.

"Jameson Williams is disappointed with the current suspension but says he has “no choice but to take it on the chin.” “I’m in good spirits just ready to get back with the my brothers ASAP soon as possible,” Williams told ESPN."

During an appearance with 97.1 The Ticket's "Karsch and Anderson" that was taped on Tuesday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter strongly suggested Williams will be available to the Lions on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

"He's playing this week, because the suspension hasn't been announced yet", Schefter said. "And usually, when suspensions come down they are made official when the league announces them. Eric Woodyard reported on Monday night that Williams is 'facing' a two-game suspension. Now, again, you have to pay attention to some of the language in there and figure out what it means, parse it out."

"Facing it means that he's facing it, and he might be appealing it and we don't know what's going to happen with the appeal", Schefter continued. "Facing it means, the league might be making a ruling on it. Facing it means a lot of different things. But I can tell you this, as of Tuesday afternoon, as we tape this, he has not yet been suspended."

Dan Campbell still preparing to be without Jameson Williams this week

Wednesday morning and the early part of the afternoon came and went, still without an official announcement from the league that Williams is suspended. So he is still with the team and able to practice, and head coach Dan Campbell had to address the situation during his press conference. And, absent an official announcement from the league, he still has to be careful with his words.

That said, Campbell reiterated what he's been saying in every public appearance he has made the last couple days.

Campbell reinforced that he still trusts Williams.

"Here’s what I can tell you -- I trust this kid,” Campbell said. “I trust him. Unfortunately, you’ve got to pay for your sins. Something happens, and if this comes down, so be it. But I know this, we dangled a rope down on the way up, we can’t wait for anybody. Over a year ago, he started climbing his way up and he got to us. Maybe he lost his grip, but he’ll climb back up again, that rope is still there. It’s tied to us. And he’ll be just fine.

Campbell would not confirm if Williams is appealing the suspension, acknowledging he had probably already said too much.

Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network reported Williams is still weighing whether to accept or appeal the two-game suspension, with what seems to be a five-day window to appeal.

According to Ben Raven of MLive, the news of Williams' pending suspension came out before an appeal decision was made.

If Williams is going to be suspended two games anyway, pending a possible appeal he apparently hasn't decided on yet (what is he waiting for?), it seems more ideal for the Lions if he misses Week 8 and Week 9, against the Titans and the Green Bay Packers. If it ends up going to Week 9 and Week 10, he missed games against the Packers and Houston Texans.

To put it succinctly, there's a lot of unknown about Williams' suspension until the league makes an announcement and/or there's further news he is going to appeal it.