Jump straight to the main content.
It seems that Jameson Williams will finally make his highly anticipated debut for the Detroit Lions this week.
On Saturday, the Lions activated the player chosen as the No. 12 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Williams has been activated and will be able to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at Ford Field.
The arrival of the fast Alabama receiver is highly anticipated, making it one of the most exciting debuts in Detroit Lions history.
Will Jameson Williams play this week?
It seems that the answer is affirmative.
On November 21, eyebrows were raised as the Lions revealed that Williams had taken the field for his inaugural practice with the team.
Williams sustained a torn ACL during the College Football Playoff Championship on January 10th. At the beginning of this season, he was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list.
Williams had a 21-day window to be activated to the roster once he began practicing. Despite head coach Dan Campbell’s belief that it was unlikely Williams would be activated this week, the Lions decided to go ahead and do so on Saturday.
Campbell stated earlier this week to All Lions that Williams, along with veteran defensive end Romeo Okwara, were unlikely to play this Sunday.
Campbell expressed that he believed it would be challenging for both individuals to participate. However, he also stated that they were willing to consider all possibilities. Additionally, he mentioned that they would receive more opportunities to practice, allowing the coaching staff to thoroughly evaluate their performance.
Williams and Okwara were both given the green light on Saturday, allowing them the opportunity to be in action on Sunday against the Jaguars.
How fast is Jameson Williams?
There might be some Detroit Lions fans questioning the contribution Jameson Williams will make to the team’s offense.
The answer – speed.
As a result of his ACL injury, Williams was excluded from participating in the NFL combine as well as any draft preparation workouts. Nonetheless, he confidently claims to possess a blazing 4.4 40-yard dash speed.
Williams was given a speed rating of 98 by the Madden video game franchise, which is nearly perfect as it is just one point away from the maximum rating of 99.
Williams is anticipated to bring a newfound speed threat to the Lions’ roster, filling a gap they presently lack. His ability to stretch the defense with long routes and convert short passes, such as screens and crosses, into significant gains when given open space is highly valuable.
During his final season playing for Alabama, Williams had an impressive performance, recording 79 receptions for 1,572 yards with an average of 19.9 yards per catch. Additionally, he scored a total of 15 touchdowns.
In addition to his role as a kick returner for the Tide, Williams proved his versatility by scoring two touchdowns during the 2021 season. Furthermore, he showcased his skills as a gunner on the punt coverage team.
Anticipated Detroit Lions debuts
The anticipation surrounding Williams’ first appearance for the Lions has increased.
The anticipation to see him in uniform has been growing among fans with each passing game due to his delayed debut caused by his injury.
There is no denying that Williams’ debut is highly anticipated, making it one of the most highly anticipated in the history of this franchise.
Here are the anticipated debuts from Lions’ first-round picks and what ensued.
Barry Sanders
In the 1989 NFL Draft, Sanders was chosen as the third overall selection. The debut of this talented running back from Oklahoma State took place on September 10, in a home game at the Pontiac Silverdome against the Phoenix Cardinals. During this game, Sanders showcased his skills by carrying the ball nine times, resulting in an impressive 71 yards and a touchdown, unfortunately ending in a 16-13 loss. Throughout his career, Sanders went on to accumulate a remarkable total of 15,269 rushing yards, ultimately earning him the prestigious title of the 1997 NFL MVP.
Andre Ware
The quarterback from Houston who won the Heisman Trophy was chosen as the seventh overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft. However, he did not make his debut until October 14 of that same year in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs, which resulted in a 43-24 loss on the road. In that game, Ware completed 4 out of 7 passing attempts, accumulating a total of 65 yards and throwing a touchdown. Surprisingly, this performance was considered one of Ware’s better outings. Throughout his four-year tenure with the Lions, he only appeared in 14 games and managed to throw five touchdowns but also had eight interceptions.
Joey Harrington
Selected as the third overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, Harrington joined the Detroit Lions. Despite not starting his debut game, he did make an appearance in the season opener on September 8th, 2002. Unfortunately, the Lions suffered a 49-21 defeat against the Miami Dolphins, leading to Harrington replacing Mike McMahon in the late stages of the game. Completing only 4 out of 11 passes for a mere 41 yards, Harrington’s performance was underwhelming. Throughout his four-year tenure with the Lions, Harrington’s record stood at 18-37, indicating his lack of success in Detroit.
Charles Rogers
Rogers, a receiver from Michigan State, was selected as the second overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. He marked his entry into the league on September 7 of the same year, playing against the Arizona Cardinals in a home game. During the match, Rogers successfully caught four passes, accumulating a total of 38 yards and scoring two touchdowns. However, his professional career was marred by injuries, resulting in a short-lived tenure of only three seasons and 15 games played in the NFL.
Calvin Johnson
On September 9, in the year 2007, the player chosen as the second overall pick in the NFL Draft made his first appearance on the field. This event occurred during an away game against the Oakland Raiders. The receiver from Georgia Tech, who was famously nicknamed Megatron, successfully caught four passes for a total of 70 yards, which also included a 16-yard touchdown. The Detroit team emerged victorious with a final score of 36-21, and Johnson’s exceptional performance paved the way for a remarkable career that led him to the Hall of Fame.
Matthew Stafford
In the 2009 NFL Draft, the Georgia quarterback was chosen as the top pick overall. On September 13 of that year, he made his first appearance in a game against the New Orleans Saints while playing away. Unfortunately, it was a forgettable debut for him. Throughout the match, Stafford completed 16 out of 37 passes, accumulating a total of 205 yards. Regrettably, he threw three interceptions and failed to score any touchdowns, resulting in a 45-27 defeat. However, despite this setback, Stafford went on to establish nearly all of the Lions’ passing records. Eventually, he was traded to the L.A. Rams, where he achieved the remarkable feat of winning a Super Bowl.
Ndamukong Suh
In the 2010 NFL Draft, the Nebraska defensive tackle was chosen as the second overall pick. There was much anticipation surrounding his debut on September 12 against the Chicago Bears. Although his performance was limited to one sack and a single tackle in the game, it was a memorable moment in a 19-14 loss famously referred to as “The Process Game.” Suh went on to play for the Detroit Lions for five seasons, during which he accumulated an impressive total of 36 sacks. Notably, he achieved a career-high of 10 sacks in his rookie year.
Aidan Hutchinson
On September 11th of this year, the player chosen as the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft made his first appearance at Ford Field, facing off against the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite only managing to make one tackle in a disappointing 38-35 loss, the defensive end from Michigan, Hutchinson, has shown significant improvement since then. Throughout the season, he has already accumulated an impressive 5.5 sacks and two interceptions, establishing himself as a game-changer for his team.
