Jameson Williams is making the kind of early training camp noise that can change the shape of an offense.
Through the first three Detroit Lions practices, the wide receiver has been one of the standout names, and Friday brought another productive showing. Multiple reports said Williams stacked together a strong session, including a couple of contested catches that turned heads.
That matters because Jared Goff is expected to push the ball downfield more this season. If Williams keeps showing he can win those tougher catches, Detroit’s passing game could become a nightmare for defenses to handle.
Dan Campbell pointed to Williams’ growth when speaking with reporters on Friday, saying, “I think last year was big in his growth. It’s really the most complete year he’s had,” Campbell told reporters on Friday.
“He played every game. Man, he had some critical plays, critical targets for us.
Certainly, got a pretty good heavy dose there towards the back end of the year. And, you can’t help, but your confidence goes up.
The more plays you make, the more your confidence goes up. But I’ll say that he’s doing all the little things right.
That’s where he’s made the most growth, man.”
The early camp signs have backed that up. On the first day of practice, Williams was seen fighting through double coverage to haul in catches.
On Friday, he reportedly got off the line with ease against both Ennis Rakestraw and D.J. Reed.
Campbell said the details are where Williams has taken the biggest step forward.
“Watch his route definition. Watch the details to it.
Him dropping his weight. Him pulling out, playing strong, catching the ball, reaching out, plucking.
And, so with his ability, man, the sky’s the limit,” Campbell expressed. “And that’s what you’re starting to see.
And that began to happen, and it became much more consistent. And, then Goff, his confidence goes way up.
Now, he can let the ball loose a little bit sooner.
"Look, he is going to have a big year for us. All those skill guys are going to have a big year for us.
So, man, I love where he’s at. He picked up where he left off at the end of the season.
I though he improved in spring, and it looks like two days in, he’s where he left off in spring. I love where he’s at.”
Williams, for his part, isn’t talking about personal milestones. He’s talking about winning.
"I just want to win, man," Williams told The Brad Galli show after practice on Friday. "I want to get back to where we was in the NFC Championship. I feel like our team, we got so much talent, we can take this team far, man.
"We stay healthy, we stay on our job, we execute. We can take it far," Williams commented further.
"We got the team. Everybody knows it.
We just have got to do those big things. I think we can come out on top this year."
With Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Isaac TeSlaa in the mix, Detroit’s receiver room has the look of a group that could end up as the best in the NFL this season if everything clicks.
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