If one word could describe the rookie season of Detroit Lions defensive tackle Tyleik Williams, it'd be "meh." He played all 17 games last season, starting 10, but one sack, 18 total tackles and being Pro Football Focus' 55th-highest grade defensive tackle out of 127 qualifiers was the definition of "we hardly noticed you."
Entering his second season, expectations are elevated for Williams. He will surely, health-permitting, play far more than the 40 percent defensive snap share he did as a rookie. Impactful production needs to follow for the 2025 first-round pick.
Heading into the offseason, Williams made it clear he wanted to improve as a pass rusher. His deeper numbers there as a rookie (three quarterback hits and 17 pressures, according to PFF) were also less than exciting.
"For me, just more pressure on the quarterback," Williams said, via Tim Twentyman of Lions.com back in January. "I won some rushes, but I'm not winning them at the rate I want to win them at."
Pre-training camp post points to breakthrough for Tyleik Williams
As Lions players descend on Allen Park for training camp, an Instagram post from Williams has grabbed attention (h/t to Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit).
On his Instagram page, Lions DT Tyleik Williams claims to have lost 50 pounds in the last five months. pic.twitter.com/eq9gXNN5jh
— Jeremy Reisman (@DetroitOnLion) July 27, 2026
Williams claims he has lost 50 pounds over the last five months. Assuming his listed weight of 328 pounds at the end of his rookie season was true, that'd put him at 278 pounds now.
Seeming to address concerns he is now too light, Williams offered some clarity about what his weight was back in February. He seem to suggest he was heavier than 328 pounds, perhaps substantially so.
I was not 328 5 months ago😂😂😂😂😂 let’s relax
— Tyleik Williams € (@tyleikk) July 27, 2026
Let's say Williams was 330-340 pounds when he attacked his offseason plan to drop weight. That'd put him at 280-290 pounds now, which (h/t to Al Karsten of Pride of Detroit) he likely hasn't weighed since he was a freshman at Ohio State in 2021.
Of course, Williams is following a template that was set a few years ago by the man who'll be next to him on the interior of the Lions' defensive line.
READ MORE: Lions' safety room situation might not be that dire after Kerby Joseph update
Alim McNeill didn't lose 50 pounds during the 2023 offseason, as he self-reported losing 22 pounds. But he was noticeably slimmer (down to 13 percent body fat), and followed that offseason work to reshape his physique with a breakthrough campaign in 2023 (five sacks, PFF's 7th-highest graded defensive tackle).
The Lions are hoping a leaner and meaner Williams has the kind of Year 2 emergence McNeill had in his third season.
Dan Campbell will surely be asked about Williams' weight loss when he talks to reporters to open camp. We can anticipate a funny remark, before a more serious response praising the second-year man.
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