Jameson Williams owned up to the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty he picked up last week — all while admitting he genuinely didn’t realize his celebration would draw a flag.

After hauling in a 40-yard touchdown against the Eagles, the Detroit Lions receiver leaped onto the goalpost in celebration. That move, however, is explicitly barred by NFL rules, which prohibit using the goalpost as a prop. The penalty backed up the extra-point try by 15 yards, forcing Jake Bates to attempt a much tougher 48-yard kick. He missed, leaving the score tied at 6-6.

Head coach Dan Campbell made his point immediately after the game, telling Williams something along the lines of: great play, but don’t repeat the celebration. The league views this particular rule as a way to avoid damaging or misaligning the goalposts.

Williams said he apologized to teammates for the misstep.

“It’s on me. It’s definitely something I can handle better,” he said Thursday. “I didn’t even know it was a penalty until I sat down and saw the field-goal unit coming out. I apologized to Jake, to Jack, to coach — everybody. People told me it wasn’t really my fault, but I felt responsible in the moment. I just need to be smarter.”

He wasn’t the only one who got caught doing it; Cowboys receiver George Pickens received an immediate flag for a nearly identical celebration the next night.

With that topic closed, Williams turned his focus back to football — and his recent surge in production.

Williams has now scored in three straight games, finding consistency after an uneven start to the season. He has 14 catches for 273 yards and three touchdowns overall, including 10 receptions, 207 yards, and two scores in the two games since Campbell took over play-calling duties.

“I feel more involved, but it’s really just part of how things are developing,” Williams said. “The plays are mostly the same — maybe a few tweaks — but lately the ball’s been coming my way. And when I get it with space, I feel like I can do something with it. Any time I touch it, I’m trying to burst through a tackle and turn it into more.”

Williams was one of the few bright spots in a passing attack that struggled against Philadelphia. With tight end Sam LaPorta (back) landing on injured reserve, Detroit will need Williams and the rest of the receiving group to help elevate the offense.

Quarterback Jared Goff has leaned on Williams on crossing routes, where his speed after the catch has made a difference. Over his last two games, Williams has piled up 119 yards after the catch, including a season-high 58 YAC two weeks ago.

“Everything about his game has improved,” Goff said. “His routes, his hands, his understanding of our offense — all of it. And I’ve said this so many times: when he gets the ball in space, good things happen. We’ve seen him break big plays over and over. We want to keep that going.”