Detroit Lions fans have been thrilled to see head coach Dan Campbell start involving wide receiver Jameson Williams more consistently over the past couple of games, following a slow start to the season. After a difficult stretch in the first eight games, Williams began to find his groove in Weeks 10 and 11.

Against the Washington Commanders in Week 10, Williams recorded six catches on seven targets for 119 yards and a touchdown. He followed that up with four catches for 88 yards and another score in Sunday night’s matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, giving Detroit their only touchdown in the second quarter.

However, Williams’ end zone celebration drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which proved costly. Instead of kicker Jake Bates attempting a standard 33-yard extra point, the penalty pushed the kick back to 48 yards in windy conditions at Lincoln Financial Field. Bates missed the attempt, leaving the score tied 6-6.

Although the missed extra point didn’t ultimately cost the Lions the game, Campbell addressed the issue afterward, making it clear that the responsibility fell on Williams. As reported by ESPN’s Eric Woodyard, Campbell told the young receiver, “That’s a helluva play, but don’t do that again.”

Why Williams Needs to Heed the Warning

Some might argue the penalty was harsh, but once Williams made contact with the goalpost during his celebration, the officials had grounds to throw the flag. The NFL has been strict about celebrations this season, especially those that could be interpreted as taunting. While an exuberant celebration can be tempting, it isn’t worth risking the team’s position.

In high-stakes games, even minor mistakes like this can have a significant impact. The focus here is on Williams’ celebration, not his actual performance, which was impressive as he showed off his speed and outran Eagles cornerback Adoree’ Jackson to reach the end zone.

For Lions supporters, it’s encouraging to see Campbell giving both praise and guidance to his young wideout. Williams has regained confidence, which bodes well for the team—provided he keeps his celebrations in check.

Moving forward, Campbell will likely expect Williams to avoid similar costly penalties. Another misstep of this nature could have real consequences for Detroit on the scoreboard.