Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver Jameson Williams is one step closer to making his NFL debut.
The team activated Williams off the Reserve/NFI list to the active roster on Saturday, along with veteran defensive lineman Romeo Okwara, who was on the Reserve/PUP list rehabbing a torn Achilles. To make room on 53-man roster for Williams and Okwara, the team placed linebacker Julian Okwara (elbow) on Reserve/Injured.
The Lions host the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ford Field Sunday, and we'll see 90 minutes before kickoff if either player is active for the game.
Okwara led the Lions with 10.0 sacks in 2020 but was lost to an Achilles injury last year suffered in Week 4. He returned to practice a couple weeks ago and when he's ready to play, it should be a big boost for Detroit's pass rush abilities on defense.
Williams has been rehabbing a torn ACL suffered in the National Championship Game while at Alabama back in January. The Lions moved up 20 spots in this year's NFL Draft to select Williams No. 12 overall, and he's done nothing but impress teammates and coaches since returning to practice Thanksgiving week.
"Certainly, the speed does pop out," Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said. "Hopefully we can keep getting him more reps, and as he's getting acclimated, and we'll see where that takes us.
"But honestly, I've been more impressed in anything – once he gets in between those white lines, his demeanor is all about football. It's what we thought we were getting when we drafted him back in the spring, and that's held true. The guy loves the game, and you can just see him light up, and he's all about ball."
Williams caught 79 passes for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns last season for Alabama. Four of those 15 touchdowns came from 70-plus yards, while the other 11 were all from 30-plus yards. He's a big play waiting to happen.
Watching him during the open portion of practice recently, it's easy to see why people are excited for his return. He moves different. He glides, like a gazelle almost. He's effortlessly fast, if that makes sense.
"I feel real good," Williams said this week of getting back to practice. "Feeling back to myself. I got a chance to get out there and get some routes and run some plays with the team and do a little bit, so I'm feeling really good right now."
The biggest hurdle Williams and the Lions had to face before activating him was to feel good about the chemistry he's built with quarterback Jared Goff. Johnson said they were in a race to get that chemistry to a point where they could activate Williams.
"I feel like it's been coming along really well," Williams said of the chemistry after a couple days of practice with Goff. "Me and Goff have been talking a lot of what would happen on this play if I was in? What would this be like? I feel like it takes some time, but it'll be good for sure."
View photos of Detroit Lions players' cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative.
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on December 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on December 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions safety Tracy Walker (21) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions safety Tracy Walker (21) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions running back Jamaal Williams (30) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on December 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions running back Jamaal Williams (30) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on December 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions cornerback Jerry Jacobs (39) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions cornerback Jerry Jacobs (39) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions defensive lineman Charles Harris (53) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions defensive lineman Charles Harris (53) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on December 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on December 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions center Evan Brown (63) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on December 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions center Evan Brown (63) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on December 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Detroit Lions defensive lineman John Cominsky (79) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Detroit Lions defensive lineman John Cominsky (79) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy (85) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on December 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy (85) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on December 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions long snapper Scott Daly (47) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions long snapper Scott Daly (47) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions tackle Matt Nelson (67) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions tackle Matt Nelson (67) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions wide receiver Maurice Alexander (15) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions wide receiver Maurice Alexander (15) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions linebacker Anthony Pittman (57) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions linebacker Anthony Pittman (57) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions cornerback Bobby Price (27) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions cornerback Bobby Price (27) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions guard Kayode Awosika (74) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions guard Kayode Awosika (74) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions tackle Obinna Eze (65) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions tackle Obinna Eze (65) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions guard Ross Pierschbacher (66) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions guard Ross Pierschbacher (66) for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions Safeties Coach Brian Duker for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions Safeties Coach Brian Duker for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Morris Henry for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Morris Henry for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on November 23, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions Mascot Roary for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on December 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Cleats belonging to Detroit Lions Mascot Roary for the My Cause My Cleats initiative, shot in Allen Park MI on December 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Williams says he doesn't feel any rust and is "running real fast right now," which is certainly good news for the Lions.
Detroit's offense currently ranks eighth in points per game (25.0), eighth in total offense (362.9) and 12th in passing (233.5). They're finally healthy at receiver with DJ Chark, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds all back together after missing time, and now they can add arguably the most explosive player in this year's draft into the mix.
"He's fast," Goff said of Williams. "He's very fast. He's very, very fast."
