Jameson Williams – Page 14

Five things to watch as Lions face winless Panthers; also my prediction

Injury list is long; Branch is out, St. Brown doubtful

Riding a two-game win streak, coach Dan Campbell wants his Lions to stay humble and hungry as they face the Carolina Panthers, a team still looking for its first win.

Detroit (3-1) is coming off another big road win at Green Bay while the Panthers lost their fourth straight, 21-13, against the Vikings.

For the Lions, it’s all about focus and not riding the roller-coaster.

“There’ll be teams that will rise, there’ll be teams that’ll fall, but as long as we just handle our business each week, no different than what we did. We went out to Green Bay and we looked like a hungry team, we looked focused on the details, we played together, we played violent and we made the plays that were there,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “We played complementary football and I think as long as we keep that as the focus and not about who you’re playing, who do they have up, what are the injuries, what is the weather, what – forget that, man. This is another opponent who’s dying for a win.’’

The Lions still have bad memories of last season when the Panthers beat them, 37-23, on Dec. 24 to snap a three-game win streak and put a dent in their playoff chances.

Five things to watch:

1. The Lions’ defense ranks first in the NFL at stopping the run, allowing just 243 rushing yards in four games. That must continue against the Panthers’ running backs Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard. “It goes back to last year where we had a huge emphasis on stopping the run. We truly believe that you stop the run, you make a team one-dimensional, you’ve kind of got a stop on them,’’ linebacker Derrick Barnes said. “… That’s been the main focus and we’re doing a better job this year than last year.’’

2. While Jared Goff’s streak of 383 throws without an interception was exceptional, it was not going to last. Now he’s thrown one interception in each of the last three games. There is no panic. Following each pick, he’s come back with a touchdown drive on the next play. “Nobody wants those (interceptions), we don’t but I don’t feel like he’s pressing. He’ll tell you, he made an error, made a mistake. He’s falling away in the pocket and makes an ill-advised throw, his eyes are on the receiver and best part about it was he didn’t get frazzled,’’ Campbell said. “… But what I want more than anything is I don’t want him to go into a shell or start panicking. And he’s not …” Goff has completed 69.5 percent of his passes with six touchdowns.

3. Continue to press the quarterback. The Lions defense has 13 sacks in four games – 12 of them in the last two games. Campbell said it’s another lesson of what happens when everyone does his job and stays unselfish. “And it’s really everybody’s in on it. And we’re getting a lot of production and the more we get inside like out of (Alim McNeill) Mac for example, the more you really see Hutch (Aidan Hutchinson) shine. It’s taking stress off of some of these other guys and vice versa,’’ the coach said. “You see Charles (Harris), you see Barnes, you see Alex (Anzalone), you see (Jack) Campbell, so they’re all playing off of each other, but they’re all doing their job and it’s important.”

4. Don’t expect miracles from wide receiver Jameson Williams. Fans are hungry to see what the speedster adds to this offense. First of all, there’s a chance he might be inactive depending on how he practiced this week. Also, he will be eased into the offense.He played just six games last season and one preseason game this year before he pulled a hamstring and was sidelined until his suspension kicked in. “We know our offense and putting him back in the mix, how much further we can go,’’ said Lions wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El. “I always make sure everyone understands the humbleness part of it. It’s not that he’s the fix-all, be-all. But he brings a different element that us and many other teams don’t have in terms of speed and the way he runs down the field.’’

5. Even though the Panthers (0-4) are winless, the Lions can not go on cruise control and expect to win the game. Detroit is a 9-point favorite but that doesn’t mean much either. “Look, we talk about it all the time and we’ve lived it. We’ve been there, we know what that’s like. There’s enough of us who’ve been here and know what it’s like when you’re trying to find that win. You’ve lost a few and you’re doing everything you can as players and as coaches to find a way to get that first one. So, we expect their best shot,’’ Campbell said. “Those guys are over there preparing. … And we’re in a race to improve with everybody in this League, and the ones who can improve the fastest are the ones that begin to make a rise in October. So, it goes without saying if you don’t show up and you play sloppy football, you turn the ball over, you don’t get takeaways, you’re not where you’re supposed to be, your odds of losing go way up.”

INJURY UPDATE

The Lions will be missing CB Brian Branch (ankle) and FB Jason Cabinda (knee). WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, who injured his abdomen in the Packers’ win, is ranked as doubtful along with TE James Mitchell (hamstring).

RB Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) appeared on the injury report for the first time this week on Friday. He’s listed as questionable along with Taylor Decker, WR Josh Reynolds, S Kerby Joseph, LB Julian Okwara and G Halapoultivaati Vaitai. CB Emmanuel Moseley (knee/hamstring) is expected to make his LIons’ debut in some capacity.

PREDICTION: Lions 31, Panthers 13. The Lions’ defense is playing too well for the Panthers to pull another upset.

Lions’ Dan Campbell tempers expectations as Jameson Williams returns

ALLEN PARK — Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams is back to work this week after his six-game NFL game suspension was shortened to four weeks.

Williams, a first-round pick in 2022, was limited to six games last season due to injury and finished with nine targets, and one amazing 41-yard reception for a touchdown. He ran a reverse 40 yards against the Bears. That’s it.

Coach Dan Campbell is not looking to make up for lost time with Williams who played in one preseason game with seven targets and two catches for 36 yards in August. He struggled with catching the ball during much of training camp and injured his hamstring in an Aug. 17 practice which sidelined him until his suspension started.

The way Campbell operates, once players get on the field, a first-round pick and undrafted player have the same chance to succeed. That won’t change with Williams. Campbell’s expectations seem basic.

“Reliability, dependability, get lined up, know where you’re supposed to be, we’re going to get the depth out of you, we can count on you to be where you’re supposed to be when you’re supposed to be there and that’s it,’’ Campbell said on Monday.

“I’m not looking for yards, I’m not looking for explosives, not looking for touchdowns, just be a reliable receiver like any of those guys in the room. That’s it. To me that’s a good year. Because we’re about winning it’s not about one player that will help us win.’’

Monday was Williams’ first day back. Tuesday the team will have a full practice in preparation to play the Carolina Panthers at Ford Field on Sunday.

“We’ve just got to see where he’s at with football. This will be his first week back, we’ll take every day and see how he does,’’ Campbell said.

No guarantee on how much he will play or even if he will play Sunday. Depends on practice this week.

“He just needs to come in, I’m not worried about him working, he will. It’s just about polishing all the little things. We also know if he does play, he can’t play 60 plays, that’s not smart, we can’t do that to him,’’ Campbell said. “So we’ll see where it goes, it’s all about improvement, no different than the rest of the team. Every week we’ve just got to get a little bit better. He needs to get a little bit better and we’ll take it from there.’’

So far with the Lions 3-1 record, the offense is sailing without Williams. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown leads with 26 catches for 331 yards and two touchdowns, while rookie tight end Sam LaPorta has 22 catches for 242 yards and a TD. Josh Reynolds had broken through with a dozen receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns.

It’s not like Williams has really been missed. His speed makes him a natural downfield target but he’s not the only one on the roster with that ability.

“I think what we’ve done a really good job of in these four weeks, we are by committee, we have production. It’s taken all of us,’’ Campbell said. “That O-line is important and our skill guys (are) stepping up, that’s from tight ends to backs to receivers.’’

From Campbell’s perspective everyone has a job to do and those who find success will find the ball coming their way more often.

“Your number will be called at a certain time, we’re not one guy’s carrying a load, that’s not how we work. Certainly we have players that we depend on on that side of the ball that have come up big for us, you know who they are,’’ the coach added.

Lions WR Marvin Jones Jr., a former Jaguar, is in familiar situation at joint practice

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams down with injuries

ALLEN PARK — It’s like old home week at the Detroit Lions facility this week for wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr.

Wednesday was the first of two joint practices with the Jacksonville Jaguars before their preseason game on Saturday.

Jones is wearing a Lions jersey – number 0 to be exact – but for the past two seasons he’s played for the Jaguars. Of course, previous to that he had his first stint (2016-20) with the Lions.

It’s not just players on both teams – he knows coaches, trainers, you name it.

“The environment is great. I hear ‘Hey’ out there after every play … I’m like I’ve got to get in the huddle,’’ Jones said. “It’s fun to see them. Obviously we’ve been through a lot over there. It ended great there and I’ve been here too. It’s the same. Just good to be around.’’

Jones sees plenty of similarities between the two teams that both finished 9-8 last season.

“I saw a lot of parallels last year after we came here and they whooped our butt. I don’t think we lost another game. And vice-versa,’’ Jones said. “We were on the trajectory at the same time. Definitely, definitely similar. I think both are going to be successful.’’

From the day he signed as a free agent, Jones had said how happy he is to return to Detroit.

“I love (the vibe). It was my vibe for five years – going on the field, hearing the same songs, the tunnel. It’s all good,’’ Jones said.

On Wednesday during one of the special teams drills, he had a few words on the sidelines with Jaguars coach Doug Pederson.

“I love him as a coach for sure,’’ Jones said.

Pederson had kind words for Jones too.

“I can’t say enough great things about Marvin. What a great leader. Helped us get into the postseason last year, came up big,’’ Pederson said. “Well liked in the community. I know he’s been here and fits in really well. Wish him the best.’’

Of course, now he’s playing for Dan Campbell and it puts a smile on his face.

“He’s been great. He’s a fiery guy, it’s easy for him to hype us up. He’s a former player who knows how to do it. Knows the flow of what we should be doing and where we should be at,’’ Jones said. “It’s been great.’’

NOTES: It was a one-two gut punch for wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams on Wednesday. St. Brown went down with an apparent ankle injury and did not return to practice. Williams was going for a deep ball when he pulled up holding his right leg on what could be a hamstring injury. He also did not return to practice. Williams already missed 4 days early in camp with a leg injury. Dan Campbell wants to give him a lot of playing time in preseason contests since he will miss the first six weeks of the season due to an NFL gambling suspension.