Scottie Montgomery said what Lions fans are thinking about Jameson Williams

The Detroit Lions are 5-2 and are, once again, among the highest-scoring teams in the NFL. They've managed to accomplish this despite underwhelming numbers from star wide receiver Jameson Williams. Now, his WR coach is openly requesting more opportunities for the speedster.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, per Brad Galli of WXYZ Detroit on X, "Lions WR coach / assistant head coach Scottie Montgomery said the team 'has to' get Jameson Williams more opportunities." Galli added that Montgomery said, "No middle ground. Only the ceiling. We gotta get to the ceiling."

Last season, Williams showed what that ceiling could look like. Williams surpassed the 1,000-yard threshold for the first time in his career on only 58 receptions. Williams complimented that with seven receiving touchdowns, also a career high. With a full offseason under his belt and a hefty contract extension, everyone from fans to the top of the organization expected big things out of Williams this season.

So far, this season has been a massive disappointment. Williams currently has 289 yards and two TDs. Those 289 yards are on pace for just over 700 yards across 17 games. Williams' 30 targets on the season are on pace for just over 70, which would be down from 91 from last season. Williams has still put up quality performances, but those have been few and far between.

What's with the lack of production this season? It could be due to his catch percentage of 56.7%, which is a sizable drop off from his 63.7% last season and even below his 57.1% from the season before. This could speak to the offense under the new offensive coordinator, John Morton. Williams and quarterback Jared Goff may be struggling to rekindle the chemistry they had last season under the new scheme, leading to key drops and play-calling adjustments that move away from Williams.

Williams' impact on the game isn't just what appears on the box score. Opposing defenses still recognize him as a big-play threat, even if the Lions haven't played up to expectations in that department. Williams can stretch the field, allowing for other receivers like Amon-Ra St. Brown more opportunities to get open. Williams also takes pride in his blocking and has frequently appeared in big play highlight reels, even if he doesn't have the ball.

Montgomery praises Williams' maturity and wants to rid talk of potential

Much of the discourse surrounding Williams is about his potential. Just as fans and the media are tired of talking about it, Montgomery is tired of hearing about it. Everyone wants to see it. Per Nolan Bianchi of the Detroit News, Montgomery told the media, "We gotta get to a point when we're not talking about potential, we're talking about production, and we'll get there."

Getting to that point has been a frustrating venture, and it's highly likely no one is more frustrated than Williams himself. This has led to speculation that a cryptic Instagram post was voicing that frustration, as opposed to lamenting the bye week, which he has been open about in the past. Montgomery shut down fears of an emerging diva by praising Williams' maturity and drive.

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Per Galli, Montgomery said of Williams, "If he wasn't a little bit ornery, it would signal complacency." Montgomery added, "I do speak to his maturity. He is working and preparing the right way." According to Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit, Montgomery pointed to Williams' not overreacting to a controversial offensive pass interference call on a would-be reception as an example of that maturity.

As the Lions head into the post-bye phase of their season, fans are expecting to see a refreshed offense that has cleaned up a series of issues, such as third-down situations. Potential won't fix those issues, but production will. Whether it's Williams or exciting rookie Isaac TeSlaa, the deeper WR pool needs to be involved more, and Goff and Morton have to get the ball to them. If they can, it'll be difficult to find a defense that can stop this offense.