Finally, now going into his third NFL season, Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams is having an offseason unencumbered by rehabbing an injury or the cloud of a gambling suspension. He needed to have a strong run of work during OTAs and minicamp, and by all accounts he did so.
It's one thing for head coach Dan Campbell to call Williams a "man on a mission" and that he has improved "everywhere." Of course Williams himself sounds ready to embrace the expectations around him. No less an authority than quarterback Jared Goff also lauded the work Williams has put in.
Training camp, when pads come on and contact is allowed, will be another important step for Williams. The entire positive vibe around him right now wouldn't necessarily be totally erased if he has a lackluster start to camp. But if a slow start lingers throughout camp, it would fuel doubts he can have the breakout season everyone expects.
Jameson Williams obviously still has something to prove during training camp
The title leaves little room for broader context on an individual basis, but Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report has Williams on his list of "Disappointing Players Who Need to Prove Themselves at 2024 Training Camp."
We know the primary reasons Williams has had a disappointing first two seasons-rehabbing a torn ACL from his final college game in 2022 and a four-game gambling suspension last year, which Ballentine notes.
Williams seemed to sharpen the finer details of his game late last season, and he carried that into offseason work.
Ballentine ultimately landed on some obvious, well-worn narrative punch lines regarding Williams.
The Lions receiver situation is still fluid beyond Amon-Ra St. Brown. Detroit's best hope is that Williams finally lives up to his potential to create a formidable trio with Sam LaPorta in the passing game.
"He'll need to take full advantage of a regular offseason if he's going to break out in Year 3."
Williams will have spotlight on him when the Lions' reconvene for training camp in late-July. The idea he needs to have a strong camp is almost too obvious to deserve specific mention.