Tag: Jameson Williams

Lions win preseason opener with rookies and backups leading the way

DETROIT — With most of the starters watching from the sidelines, the Detroit Lions won their preseason opener 21-16 over the N.Y. Giants on Friday night before an exceptionally boisterous preseason crowd at Ford Field.

The teams held a pair of joint practices at the Lions’ facility earlier in the week, giving many veterans plenty of reps against an opponent. Coach Dan Campbell’s plan was to give younger players more gametime reps.

“I felt like those young guys came out, I didn’t think it was too big for them. They made plays and the vets who were out there for us did a good job too,’’ Campbell said. “It always feels good to win. We’ve got a lot to clean up, but it’s a good first start.’’

Detroit quarterback Nate Sudfeld, who will battle for the No. 2 spot with Teddy Bridgewater, started and played until there were 23 seconds left in the third quarter. 

His first snap was an attempted pass to wide receiver Jameson Williams that was intercepted. Campbell said Nate was getting hit as he threw. Sudfeld’s other interception was also on a pass to Williams, but Campbell said that one was on both of them.

Williams, who only played in the last six games last year, is under much scrutiny. He’s a first-round pick (2022) with speed to spare, but he hasn’t been able to show much on the football field at least yet.

“I told him this, I’m not worried. I didn’t go into this game saying Jameson needs to have 10 catches and 180 yards. That was not what I wanted,’’ Campbell said. “I just wanted him to get lined up, urgency, route definition, detail, finish. I thought for the most part he did that.’’

Williams, who started and played until late in the third quarter, was targeted seven times and had two catches for 18 yards. While it won’t be found in the stats, he made a nice block on a 32-yard play by tight end James Mitchell. 

Sudfeld completed 15 of 28 passes for 194 yards, settling down a bit after that first pick.

Early in the third quarter he completed a 2-point conversion on a pass to Williams (who made a one-handed catch) after a 95-yard punt return for a touchdown by Maurice Alexander.

“That was an outstanding return, I thought that was a long kick, he fielded it and I thought we blocked well and the rest was up to him,’’ Campbell said. “He broke a couple of tackles, kept going, he got some blocks downfield. I think what was awesome is what we preach all the time, that’s not even our first unit, but it showed the development of guys.’’

Adrian Martinez came in at quarterback with 23 seconds left in the third and led an 11-play drive that ended with a quarterback keeper for one yard and a touchdown that proved to be the game-winner.

Campbell said the young quarterback was composed, efficient and unfazed. He will likely get fewer reps next week against Jacksonville because Teddy Bridgewater, who signed Thursday and didn’t play Friday, will be in the mix.

Rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs, a first-round pick, looked like he belonged with six runs for 19 yards and an 18-yard catch in his limited time in the first half. It wasn’t a surprise, it’s what he has been showing at training camp.

The Lions backup defense held the Giants to just 215 net yards, with 81 of those on the ground.

Defensive ends Julian and Romeo Okwara combined for four sacks, with Julian getting three of them.

“It was nice to see the two brothers go in there and crush the can. That was good,’’ Campbell said. “I thought for the most part we had pressure all day.’’

Nine defensive players had tackles for losses. 

Rookie linebacker Jack Campbell did not start, but had four tackles and one pass defense. 

“Obviously it always feels good to win, I thought the guys came out, we just wanted to cut it loose and play, keep it plain and simple,’’ coach Campbell said. “They knew what we were facing because we faced them for two days now.’’

On Wednesday and Thursday, the Lions will host joint practices with the Jacksonville Jaguars and then face them in a preseason game at 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 19, at Ford Field.

Lions WR Jameson Williams suspended 6 games; Moore, Cephus cut due to gambling violations

Lions wide receivers Jameson Williams and Stanley Berryhill have been suspended for six games by the NFL for gambling policy violations including betting from an NFL facility on non-NFL games.

The announcement was made on Friday morning by the team which also released wide receiver Quintez Cephus and safety C.J. Moore. Both were suspended indefinitely by the NFL earlier Friday for violating the league’s gambling policy, including betting on NFL games.

Both Berryhill and Williams can participate in off-season and pre-season activities leading up to their suspension, which will begin on the final roster cut-down date.

“As a result of an NFL investigation, it came to our attention that a few of our players had violated the league’s gambling policy,” Lions GM Brad Holmes said. “These players exhibited decision-making that is not consistent with our organizational values and violates league rules. We have made the decision to part ways with Quintez and C.J. immediately. We are disappointed by the decision-making demonstrated by Stanley and Jameson and will work with both players to ensure they understand the severity of these violations and have clarity on the league rules moving forward.”

Jameson, who was a first-round pick in 2022, played in six games (one reception, nine targets)  last season after rehabbing from an ACL knee injury that he had incurred before the draft. Holmes said on Thursday they drafted him with the vision of him making contributions starting this season. 

Berryhill spent most of last season on the Lions’ practice squad.

C.J. Moore, who has played for the Lions for four seasons, signed a two-year extension in March.

Cephus played in four games (two catches, one touchdown) last season which was his third with the Lions.

(Coming up: The NFL draft starts Thursday and runs through Saturday. The Lions have nine picks, including two in the first round.)

GM Brad Holmes says Detroit Lions have flexibility in NFL draft

Two first-round picks among 9 overall

ALLEN PARK — Once a year Lions GM Brad Holmes stands in front of the media to take pre-draft questions that he can’t answer. He’s good with it, understands it and while he’s not revealing the team’s draft board, he is able to give some  insight into the draft preparation.

The Lions have nine picks including two in the first round (sixth and 18th) in the three-day NFL draft, which opens Thursday, April 27.

Holmes and the Lions have put themselves in a position where there is flexibility in the process.

“There’s always something you’re going to have to address. We did a lot of things on defense in free agency and there are a lot of good defensive players in this draft. So we feel pretty comfortable,’’ Holmes said on Thursday. “Again, I just can’t pinpoint one position where we’re like ‘Oh my gosh if we don’t do that’ … I just think it’s a lot of different directions we can go. 

“We’re not perfect, we still have a lot of work to do, we understand that, we know that, we embrace it. I always tell people I embrace darkness, I embrace reality. We’re used to taking the hard road through the narrow gate. You’re always going to have to deal with stuff but we just deal with it and try to build the best we can,’’ he added.

Holmes explained that while looking at the depth chart is key in signing free agents who can be plugged in immediately, that is not how they look at it during the draft where the players are big long-term investments.

The Lions finished last season winning 8 of their last 10 games so expectations are high. Holmes and coach Dan Campbell have changed the culture and put their own stamp on the team. Holmes credited Campbell with jumping right from the end of the season to helping with the draft preparation.

They typically see eye to eye in player evaluations.

“Me and Dan say all the time these players have to fit here. It’s not like we have to chase this player with the red flags or whatever, it’s always case by case. I know you’re tired of me saying this but it’s just true,’’ Holmes said.

When it comes to making the draft decisions Holmes said he trusts his gut.

“You can look at all the data and research. We scrub it, we dive deep, but at the end of the day if it does not feel right. … It’s a little difficult whichever round, it can be in the seventh round. If you have to make that phone call that he’s going to be a Detroit Lion, you want to feel confident about it and you don’t want to have any nervousness about it,’’ Holmes said. “That’s where the gut piece comes in. I’ve always trusted it and I still trust it.’’

Having the two of the top 18 picks — sixth and 18th — makes the process more unpredictable to start. (The sixth pick came in the trade of Matthew Stafford to the Rams.)

“Having those two picks they’re kind of in unique spots depending on what’s going to happen in front of you and behind you,’’ Holmes said. “Where we are right now, I say we have a lot of flexibility, we can go in a lot of directions. We feel good about that, but it’s just a little different.’’

Last year, Holmes selected defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson and wide receiver Jameson Williams in the first round.

Four of the 2022 draft picks started on defense in the final game, the win at Green Bay. They included Hutchinson, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (sixth round), linebacker James Houston (sixth round) and safety Kerby Joseph (third round).

After the first round next Thursday, the Lions have two second-round picks (48th and 55th), one in the third round (81st), two in the fifth round (152nd and 159th) and two in the sixth round (183rd and 194th).