Without being asked, Dan Campbell took time to praise the unheralded work of Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams away from the ball.
On Sunday, Williams opened the game against the Cincinnati Bengals with a 1-yard carry. Moments later, he caught a 9-yard pass on the next drive. That ended up being his final touch of the afternoon. For the remainder of the game, he didn’t record another reception or target.
Still, despite the lack of production, Williams earned a shoutout from Campbell during his Monday press conference. When the coach reached Williams’ name, he paused to make sure the receiver got his due.
“Jamo didn’t have the big stats — not a lot of catches or targets — but man, his blocking in the run game was phenomenal,” Campbell said. “He was physical all game long, getting after it. He found another way to make a difference for our offense.”
It’s been a quiet start statistically for Williams. Over the past three games, he’s caught only five passes for 92 yards. Overall this season, he ranks 48th in the league with 223 receiving yards. That’s led some to question whether Detroit made the right call in giving him a three-year, $80 million contract extension just over a month ago.
Campbell believes part of the reduced output stems from how defenses game-plan for Williams. His blazing speed forces teams to adjust their coverage.
“He draws a lot of attention when he’s on the field,” Campbell explained. “Defenses don’t want him getting behind them, so they either stay deep or play a shell coverage over the top.”
That defensive strategy opens up opportunities elsewhere in the passing attack.
While the Bengals focused on containing Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown (eight receptions, 100 yards) and Sam LaPorta (five catches, 92 yards, one touchdown) were dominant across the middle.
For many receivers, a lack of targets might create frustration. Around the NFL, star wideouts often voice complaints publicly or behind the scenes when the ball doesn’t come their way. Williams, however, handles it differently.
“I can’t be out there pouting during the game, because the next play might come to me, and I’ve got to be ready,” Williams said a few weeks ago when discussing his mindset. “I just keep my head clear when I’m on the field. I’m not focused on targets — I’m focused on winning.”
That selfless attitude is exactly what Campbell admires most about the third-year receiver.
“It’s not easy — you’re a receiver, and you think your best contribution comes from catching passes,” Campbell said. “But he found other ways to help and never let it affect him. He was out there blocking for others, helping the runners. He showed up big time. He was tough, physical in the run game, and he’s a true team-first guy. We really appreciate that about him.”
