Detroit Lions receiver Jameson Williams has been handed a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s Performance-Enhancing Substances policy.
The Lions are finally leading the NFC North with a 5-1 following the road victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Williams has contributed a big-play ability to the Lions offense this season, but he struggled to get involved against the Vikings.
Given he was a non-factor in the divisional matchup, the Lions offense must now get used to Williams’ absence. The 23-year-old’s suspension will mean the receiver will miss upcoming games against the Tennessee Titans and – crucially – a trip to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers.
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Williams told ESPN he is disappointed with the suspension, but he said he ultimately has “no choice but to take it on the chin.” He said: “I’m in good spirits just ready to get back with [my] brothers ASAP.”
Williams has featured in all six of Detroit’s games this season, recording 17 receptions for 360 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. He currently has the second-most receiving yards and touchdowns on the Lions behind All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Williams will be cleared to return in Week 10 when the Lions take on the Houston Texans on Sunday Night Football. However, the former first-round pick may be running out of opportunities to prove his worth in his short and bumpy three-year career.
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Jameson Williams has scored three touchdowns in 2024 (
Getty Images)
As the No. 12 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Alabama, Williams missed 11 games in his rookie season following a torn ACL injury in his final college game. Then, ahead of the 2023 season, Williams was handed a six-game suspension after an investigation by the NFL determined he, along with four other Lions players to be disciplined, violated the league’s gambling policy.
The suspension was later reduced to four games, and the speedster returned to the field in Week 5. He was banned for betting on non-NFL games from a club facility, with the ban reduced after the league changed the rules.
In the crucial victory over the Vikings, Williams was only targeted once for minus-4 yards. Detroit quarterback Jared Goff completed 22 of 25 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns while running back Jahmyr Gibbs turned 15 carries into 116 yards and two scores in the epic 31-29 win. The 5-1 Lions are next in action against the 1-5 Titans on Sunday, Oct. 27.
