Jamaal Williams is still hoping for one more shot in Detroit.
The free agent running back, who spent two seasons with the Lions from 2021-22, recently reached out to Dan Campbell about a possible reunion, according to a report from the Detroit Free Press. Williams told Campbell he was on the comeback trail, and Campbell left the door open - even if Detroit doesn’t have a spot for him right now.
“He reached out to Lions coach Dan Campbell last weekend to let Campbell know he was on the comeback trail,” Dave Birkett wrote. “And while Campbell said the Lions are holding tight at running back for now but would keep him in mind if things change, Williams is hopeful he’ll land a job soon and ready to contribute when he does.”
Williams made a real imprint on Detroit during his time there. He brought energy, steady leadership and plenty of production, rushing for 17 touchdowns in 2022, which stood as a franchise high at the time.
But after a contract dispute sent him to the New Orleans Saints in free agency in 2023, things never really took off the same way. He’s been out of football since the end of the 2024 season, though he has reportedly stayed in shape while waiting for another opportunity.
Williams also made clear he doesn’t carry any bitterness about how things ended with the Lions.
“I didn’t want to go nowhere. I wanted to be there,” Williams told Birkett.
“That’s where I wanted to be, but at the same time it’s just like, ‘We just got done having this crazy season, what am I doing that you don’t think I deserve?’ And they had their right, they have their things and it’s cool.
And then at the time, it was just the Saints who offered what I wanted. They gave it to me and I ended up there.
And that’s pretty much it. There’s no personal feelings, no hard feelings.”
Detroit’s backfield picture has changed enough that a reunion doesn’t look likely at the moment. The Lions are down their RB2 with Isiah Pacheco sidelined indefinitely after recent back surgery, and reports say he won’t be back until December at the earliest. That kind of absence can open the door for a power runner, which is the sort of role Williams could fill.
But the Lions have also leaned harder on Jahmyr Gibbs, and that has cut into the need for a traditional backup. Through two weeks, Gibbs is tied with Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker for the most touches in the NFL with 56.
There’s also more depth in the room. Detroit has given 2024 fourth-round pick Sione Vaki a bigger role, even if the raw numbers are modest - three rushes and two catches.
He’s played 33 offensive snaps, helped spell Gibbs and provided the offense with a capable pass protector. Jacob Saylors is in the mix too, and he’s already shown some juice as a runner after leading the NFL in rushing yards this preseason while also proving his value on special teams.
So while Campbell told Williams the situation could change, the message for now is clear: the Lions are not in a hurry to make a move, and a Detroit return for Jamaal Williams doesn’t appear to be happening yet.
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