Lions reportedly shutting down star WR for rest of preseason
The Detroit Lions were already going to be without 2022 first-round receiver Jameson Williams for the first six games of the 2023 season while he serves a suspension for violating the NFL’s gambling policy.
And now, they may have to make do without him for the final two games of the preseason as well after the star wideout tweaked his hamstring during practice on Wednesday.
“There’s a good chance (his injury) could go through the preseason,” Lions coach Dan Campbell told reporters on Thursday. “Yeah, there will be a setback with it, but it’s also — listen, you take it as it comes. I’m not going to sweat it.”
The 22-year-old Williams just can’t seem to catch a break with injuries. He tore his ACL during the 2021 national championship game, which forced him to miss 11 games of his rookie season.
Being sidelined for the first six games of the year, the preseason was supposed to be when the Lions ramped up Williams’ workload in preparation of the regular season. He played 71 percent of Detroit’s offensive snaps during its preseason opener against the New York Giants. His 51 offensive snaps were second-most on the team, 27 of which came on passing plays, per Pro Football Focus.
The Lions likely would have used him just as much in the final two exhibition games against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday and the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 25.
“He misses the reps,” Campbell added. “That’s a chance to get full-speed, full-tilt reps, the timing of the pass game, lining up — all of it — moving versus press, through the zones, you know, it’s just time on task. As long as he’s willing to grind on the playbook and get it right, we’ll take it as it goes.”
The Lions open the regular season on Sept. 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs on “Thursday Night Football.” Williams won’t be eligible to return to the team until Oct. 16, the day after its Week 6 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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