Tyrell Williams spent his first week of practice in the NFL impersonating Calvin Johnson -- or at least trying his best. The Chargers were hosting the Lions in the season opener, and the closest thing they had to Megatron was a 6'4 undrafted rookie receiver.
"I had to be Calvin that week as a scout team guy," Williams said Wednesday. "I probably ran 10 miles that week of practice just trying to emulate him. But I think he only had like two catches that week, so I attributed it to myself. I thought I was doing a real good Calvin impression."
Indeed, the Chargers held Johnson to two catches in the first game of his final season. And now Williams finds himself in Detroit, once again trying to impersonate one of his favorite players growing up. He's not aiming to be Megatron, because Megatron can't be reproduced. But if Williams can be anything like him, the Lions might be better off at receiver than we think.
"Calvin’s a Hall of Famer, the best to ever do it," Williams said. "Him and Randy (Moss), I think."
Williams, 29, has been imitating Johnson for as long as he's been catching passes. He switched from QB to receiver in high school and immediately began studying Megatron and Moss. He watched their routes closely. You can tell he still watches Megatron when he praises how the Hall of Famer "attacks balls in the air, gets in and out of his breaks, and how he carries himself, too."
"It’s the best," Williams said. "He had passion when he played, but he was also super bumble about himself. It was awesome to see."
Williams played sparingly as a rookie with the Chargers, but exploded for over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns in his second season. That was the same year San Diego lost Keenan Allen in Week 1 and Williams wound up with 119 targets. His targets came down the next three seasons, and so did his production. He signed a four-year deal with the Raiders in 2019, only to be cut after missing all of last season due to a shoulder injury.
The Lions are hoping Williams can revive his career in Detroit. And Williams is hoping Johnson might help him do it. While he's never met his receiving idol, he said he's "definitely thought about" reaching out and picking Johnson's brain once the man is free. He's sort of busy this weekend being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
"Hopefully be able to talk with him throughout the season," Williams said. "Anything he could help with, I’m sure I could learn as much as I can from him. Definitely want to wait until he’s done with all his Hall of Fame stuff and not put any pressure on him where he feels like he needs to talk to me about anything. Just let him do his thing and hopefully reach out to him later."
What would Williams like to ask him?
"Just how he carries himself as a bigger receiver on the field. What his mindset is on trying to set routes up. And being a vertical threat, how he used that to set up all his underneath stuff," Williams said.
As a group, Detroit's wide receivers have a lot to prove. A lot to disprove, if you listen to the critics. Williams is trying to re-prove he can put up 1,000 yards, and a bigger role could help him do it. So could a phone call from Calvin, just as soon as he returns from Canton.