Jameson Williams shares major love for Ben Johnson before he returns to Detroit

The Detroit Lions play another divisional game in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears, and this one will come with a bit of added meaning.

Former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson comes back to town to face his former team. Naturally, there are some complicated feelings about Johnson given how he departed, which could lead to charged emotions and an intense atmosphere from the fans as well as former players.

One player who won't be fighting many of those emotions is wide receiver Jameson Williams. After he came into the league, Johnson was Williams' only offensive coordinator. As a result, he became close with his coach and is still appreciative of what he means to his career.

"He's been a good guy, a great guy. Taught me a lot about how to approach the game. He taught me how to learn the game, We talked a lot. I talked to him a couple times this offseason just checking up on him and my guy Luther Burden over there. I was just calling him and I ended up talking to Ben (Johnson) somehow. I appreciate everything he's done for me. He's helped me a lot and that's just that."

While Johnson's exit from Detroit was messy, it's tough to make the case he didn't help several Lions players take leaps in their career. That's especially the case with Williams, who has improved every year since he was a rookie. He's evolved to a point where he is a top wide receiver and team leader, which is a credit to Johnson's influence.

Obviously, Williams realizes how much Johnson meant to him personally and is willing to give him plenty of credit even though he coaches a major rival.

Williams happy to stay 'home' with Lions on new contract extension

Last week, Williams stayed with the Lions on a new contract extension. The news broke just before Detroit's game against the Green Bay Packers, which made an immediate reaction hard. With some time to reflect, Williams shed some light on why he wanted to stay, and it has everything to do with the way the franchise has been built.

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"I found a home here. I feel very comfortable with the staff and my brothers that I play with and go to war with every week. That was the main thing. My brothers were on my mind going out and going to war with them. I wouldn't want to do it with anybody else different, by the way we practice and go hard with each other all year round. That was the main thing."

It's inspiring to hear that Williams believes he has found a home in Detroit, and has love not only for the city and fans, but his teammates. That's good news, because in the past, many elite players have wanted to leave town immediately regardless of many of those factors being in balance.

If Williams has a big game and burns Johnson and the Bears in Week 2, it would be a welcome development, and as much a credit to his former coach as anyone else.