The Detroit Lions hit a jackpot when they selected wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. However, the team still needed a deep threat to stretch the defense and create space for St. Brown. To address this, they drafted Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams in the 2022 NFL Draft. Despite recovering from a torn ACL in his final season with the Crimson Tide, Williams was expected to be able to run a 4.30 40-yard dash or faster.
Williams played only six games in his rookie NFL season, catching just one pass—a 41-yard touchdown. Heading into 2023 fully healthy, he was primed for a breakout year until he was hit with his first suspension.
Sporting News outlines Williams’ series of off-field issues during his brief time with the Lions.
Jameson Williams’ Timeline of Troubles
Gambling Suspension
Williams was among the players affected by the 2023 NFL gambling suspensions. Along with three other Lions players, Williams was penalized after an investigation revealed that he had placed a bet on a college football game while staying at the team hotel on a road trip. Initially facing a six-game suspension, his sentence was reduced, and he returned after missing four games.
PED Suspension
Williams began the 2023 season without any further incidents but ran into trouble again in Week 8 when the NFL announced he had violated the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy. He issued a statement expressing his surprise at the suspension, explaining that he avoids supplements and over-the-counter medicine. He took full responsibility for the violation, expressing regret for letting down his teammates and the organization. As a result, Williams missed Detroit’s Week 8 game against the Tennessee Titans and their Week 9 matchup with the Green Bay Packers.
Gun Incident
On October 8, Williams and his brother were stopped by police in Detroit after midnight. The Lions receiver was handcuffed when authorities allegedly discovered an unregistered firearm in their vehicle. Despite being informed he would be taken into custody for carrying a concealed weapon, Williams repeatedly told the officers that he played for the Lions. Body camera footage revealed that a sergeant who arrived at the scene authorized Williams’ release without an arrest. Following further investigation, the Wayne County prosecutor’s office determined that no charges would be filed, and no legal action was taken against Williams.