Eric Woodyard, ESPN
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Detroit Lions huge receiver Jameson Williams, who’s dealing with a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances coverage, remains to be working towards and across the workforce till the league makes a proper announcement.
The league knowledgeable Williams of his constructive check this week, sources advised ESPN, however it has but to make an official ruling as he has a window to attraction the choice, which permits him to proceed to apply.
Coach Dan Campbell says the workforce is ready to play with out him this week in opposition to Tennessee, however he nonetheless has religion within the 23-year-old Williams, who was additionally suspended 4 video games in 2023 for violating the NFL’s playing coverage.
“I belief this child. I belief him. And sadly, you have to pay in your sins,” Campbell mentioned Wednesday. “If one thing occurs and this comes down, so be it. However I do know this, we dangled the rope down on the best way up. We will not anticipate anyone.
“And over a 12 months in the past, he began climbing his method up and he bought to us. And possibly he misplaced his grip, however he’ll climb again up once more. That rope’s nonetheless there. It is tied to us, and he’ll be simply advantageous, however he is a part of this workforce and I belief him.”
The Lions traded up 20 spots to draft Williams with the twelfth total choice in 2022, and he missed 11 video games that season due to a knee damage suffered in school at Alabama. He’s presently No. 2 on the workforce in receiving yards (361) and touchdowns (3) throughout a breakout 12 months.
Campbell is assured that this newest incident will not derail his progress.
“He is matured a lot, and I get it, I perceive the place it is at. I do know it may be irritating,” Campbell mentioned. “Look, it is irritating for us and it is irritating as a result of I’ve bought to reply these questions and the workforce goes to should reply them after they should not should, however finally, he is taken enormous strides.
“He is made enormous strides, and I acknowledge that and I feel the workforce acknowledges that. So, I feel he is gonna come again higher than he was earlier than.”
