As he cleared out his locker on Monday, Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams chose to focus on the bright spots from a season that ultimately fell short of expectations.
For the first time in his NFL career, Williams appeared in every possible game. That consistency, paired with noticeable development in his play, resulted in the most productive season of his career. He hauled in 65 passes for 1,117 yards and found the end zone seven times.
Health and the opportunity to consistently compete alongside his teammates stood out as major positives for Williams, despite the Lions failing to reach the postseason. Looking ahead, he believes his expanded role and the offense’s growing confidence in him laid an important foundation for the future.
“It was an enjoyable year,” Williams said. “No matter how it ended, we were out there competing and having fun. Obviously, the result wasn’t what we wanted, but I loved making plays, winning games with my guys — that’s what it’s all about.”
He added that the experience reminded him why he dreamed of playing in the NFL and reinforced his motivation heading into the next season.
Reflecting on his development, Williams said his improvement has been consistent since joining Detroit. Still, there’s one area he’s prioritizing this offseason — adding strength.
“Getting stronger is my biggest focus,” Williams explained. “I want to be able to move better and hold my ground more. When I’m running routes through traffic, I can get knocked off balance. I need to be stronger so that doesn’t happen.”
Currently listed at 6-foot-1 and around 182 pounds, Williams has already added muscle over the past year. Another offseason in the weight room could push him closer to the 200-pound mark, potentially making him even tougher to defend.
The disappointment of missing the playoffs has lingered throughout the Lions locker room, and Williams admitted it hit harder this year than during his rookie season — even though both years ended with the same 9-8 record.
“This one hurt more,” Williams said. “We were still in the mix late, and it just felt different. It wasn’t depressing, but you could feel it.”
That frustration, however, has become motivation. Williams echoed head coach Dan Campbell’s message, saying the team plans to use the setback as fuel.
“We’re coming back with something to prove,” he said. “There’s going to be a chip on our shoulder, and we’re going to handle business next season.”
