Lions receivers coach Antwaan Randle El caught 370 passes over nine years in the NFL, 369 more than Jameson Williams to date. Williams may one day catch him, but not without, well, catching. When the Lions' second-year receiver was fighting the drops this spring -- an ongoing battle for the former 12th overall pick -- Randel El said they were drilling Williams' hands before and after practice and that they would really pick things up in training camp.
"It's like, man, we've got these drills that I know work," said Randle El.
So there was Williams on Tuesday morning, the first player on the field for the Lions' first joint practice with the Giants, catching close-range, rapid-fire mini footballs from Randel El. Then he kicked off practice by going 0-for-3 against Giants defensive backs in 1-on-1's. The first two incompletions came with veteran corner Adoree' Jackson stuck on Williams' hip. The third came with Darnay Holmes in his wake, only for Holmes to catch up when the ball arrived late.
Jackson and Williams go back a ways, connected by their St. Louis-area roots. They went to separate schools on separate sides of the Mississippi River, but "you know about all the players coming out, basketball, football, baseball, whatever," Jackson said. Williams landed on Jackson's radar when the former was on the rise at Cardinal Ritter Prep and Jackson, a first-round pick of the Titans in 2017, was breaking into the NFL.
"I heard about him in high school, but obviously when he went to Bama and started doing his thing, that’s when it was like, 'Oh, that’s the kid I heard of.' He’s a tremendous talent," Jackson said.
That talent continues to tantalize the Lions. They waited for it most of last season as Williams recovered from the torn ACL he suffered at Alabama, and saw it when he turned his second NFL target into a 41-yard touchdown -- and his first handoff into a 40-yard gain. But those were the only plays Williams made as a rookie. It's been more of the same this summer, flashes of speed clouded by unrealized potential.
The overflow crowds Tuesday and Wednesday in Allen Park could hardly sit still when quarterbacks threw Williams' way. He caught two short passes from Nate Sudfeld in Tuesday's seven-on-seven period, running mostly with the second-team offense, and punctuated one of them by juking two Giants out of their cleats. The fans ooh'd and aah'd. They rose out of the bleachers as one when Williams burst past the defense for a sure touchdown in 11-on-11 Wednesday, then sat down in disappointment when Sudfeld left his throw several yards short.
"To be able to get to see him play, just a tremendous athlete," Jackson said Wednesday. "Even to come back from the ACL injury and still produce, still be able to compete at a high level like he does, I just think he’s a great talent and is a great fit for the Lions."
So, nothing has been lost in the wake of the injury?
"Nah," Jackson smiled, "Jamo still Jamo. Just smooth, cool, collected. Just goes out there and has fun and does it the right way."
Two things are true about Williams in Detroit's receivers room: He has the most sheer talent, and the most work to do in the next three weeks. With a six-game suspension looming, starting with a three-week ban from the Lions' facility, it's crucial that Williams maximizes every practice and preseason game in front of him. That means tightening his routes, eliminating wasted steps and sharpening his "hand mechanics," as Dan Campbell says.
Most of all, it means making up for lost reps with Jared Goff, who still doesn't look totally in rhythm throwing Williams' way. Goff threw nine balls to Williams last season and saw eight hit the ground, and they've missed on more throws than they've connected in camp. Their timing needs exactly that -- more time -- but there's only so much left before Williams is gone again.
"It’s always a work in progress, and we’re continuing to get better," said Goff.
Everything is still out there for Williams, even if he's yet to grab it. He's already one of the fastest players on the field, which can make him one of the hardest receivers to cover. At any moment, as he showed this week, Williams can take the top off the defense. As Marvin Jones said Wednesday, "He has all-world speed. The guy’s potential is out the roof."
"And the thing about him," said Jones, the Lions' most veteran receiver, "is he’s always asking me questions. You can tell he wants to be a good one in this league. And it’ll happen, for sure."
Williams will play a lot in the Lions' next three games. Then he'll watch the first six that count, just like the fans who are desperate for him to succeed. And what should they expect this season when Jamo hits the field?
"A playmaker," said Jackson. "They should expect a guy that’s going to give the city a lot to cheer for."
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