More snaps has yet to equal more targets for Jameson Williams

As November ended, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson talked about wide receiver Jameson Williams and the natural idea he would see more targets with his increase in snaps.

"The way he’s practicing, the way he’s preparing, and the way he’s playing, because of that, his reps are going up, He continues to get out there, and the ball is going to just start gravitating to him just a little bit more than it already has, But he’s going a really nice job, and he just needs to continue to put in the work like he’s doing right now."

Since those comments from Johnson, Williams has played 57 and 58 percent snap shares in the last two games. He has totaled one catch for 11 yards on two targets and two carries for 23 yards with a touchdown on the ground in the two games.

So much for the ball "gravitating" to him. Williams has now played more than half of the Lions' offensive snaps in five straight games, with seven catches for 124 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets in those games.

The Lions must find a way to get Jameson Williams more involved

Williams might never be a high-volume target in the Lions' passing game. But the only game he has had more than three targets in this season was Week 7, when he had six and caught none of them.

Some of Williams' lack of involvement can be rooted in Johnson's play-calling. Another part of it has to do with Jared Goff, who can't seem to account for Williams' speed and the rapport is not all the way there between the two right now.

Johnson has manufactured a touch for Williams with an end-around in back-to-back games. But he's often running deep routes as a decoy to create space for others, and the rest of the time his route tree feels limited.

On Monday, Dan Campbell said he had no issues with Johnson's game plan against the Bears on Sunday. That being said, the head coach would clearly like to see Williams featured more.

"We'll keep working with him. He's improving. We'll keep working to find some different ways to get him more involved because he is putting the work in and improving ... he's earned that."

After having his development slowed by a torn ACL in his final college game and a gambling suspension last spring that cost him four games this year, Williams has reached a point where he's playing a noticeable amount and he looks sharp in his details.

Now it's time for Williams' usage and production to start matching his playing time, especially at times when the Lions' offense might otherwise fall into a rut.