Jameson Williams has never lacked confidence as a player. That's been apparent from Day 1 landing in Detroit.
But what has been different all offseason, training camp and now in preparation for the regular season opener Sunday night vs. the Rams is the confidence all the key pieces around Williams have in his maturation and playmaking ability as he enters a massively important season in his career.
"As high as it's ever been and continuing to climb," Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said Thursday when asked about his confidence level in Williams heading into the season.
"The more reps, the more time we get together on the field, the better I feel about him. He's grown in so many ways, on and off the field. As a player, as a route runner, as a receiver, and then off the field just his preparation."
Head coach Dan Campbell and quarterback Jared Goff have raved about the growth they've seen from Williams. The only thing left now is for Williams to go out Sunday in his new role as the team's No. 2 receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and do what everyone who has watched him over the last few months expects him to do – make plays.
"I'm excited. It's something I'm ready for," Williams said Thursday after practice. "Getting back to being myself and playing ball. Real excited to just go out there and play ball with the team and get a W."
In 12 games played during the regular season last year Williams had 24 catches for 354 yards and two touchdowns with a rushing touchdown. He added a receiving and rushing touchdown during Detroit's playoff run. Those numbers are expected to significantly increase in 2024 as his reps increase. He played in 446 snaps last season but is expected to double that this year and be a big component to this passing attack.
"I expect Jamo to do what Jamo do, and that's run past people and make plays in the deep part of the field," Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said Thursday.
"Listen, I'm a huge fan of that player, me and him have a really good relationship and I try to push him just as much as I push anybody else because he has the talent to be able to do it. So I look forward to watching him operate this whole season."
ARNOLD READY TO BE A TARGET
Rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold is expected to get his first career start Sunday night, and he knows as a rookie cornerback in this league, playing a veteran quarterback like Matthew Stafford, he's going to get tested.
"I think Stafford is elite, man," Arnold said. "He's probably one of the best in the game at no-look throws. Even when you're in zone coverage it looks like his eyes are over here and he's throwing the ball over there. So you just have to do a great job of not trying to be greedy and just being in the right spot and trusting it."
Arnold has earned the respect of his teammates and coaches on both sides of the ball for his sticky coverage and ability to make plays but also move on to the next play no matter what happens.
"You can kind of feel when the ball is coming," Arnold said. "Even last year when I was at Alabama, the first play of the game they tried me and I kind of got that feeling like, 'That short fade is coming.' You can kind of feel it and just trust your instincts and trust yourself that's what makes a good cornerback."
View photos from Detroit Lions practice on Thursday, September 5, 2024.
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26), Detroit Lions running back Jermar Jefferson (28) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit lions wide receiver Allen Robinson (8) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch (32) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44), Detroit Lions Linebackers Coach Kelvin Sheppard during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Isaac Ukwu (45) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55), Detroit Lions Linebackers Coach Kelvin Sheppard during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Marcus Davenport (92) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13), Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Michael Niese (62), Detroit Lions offensive lineman Giovanni Manu (59) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Brandon Joseph (12) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Josh Paschal (93) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33), Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 5, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
WHAT DRIVES ST. BROWN?
St. Brown was motivated early in his career by an underdog mentality of being a fourth-round pick and the 17th receiver taken in the 2021 NFL Draft.
After signing a massive extension this offseason, earning his first All-Pro nod and being featured on the Netflix series "Receiver," St. Brown is widely considered one of the best receivers in the game and now he's paid like one too.
So what is the big motivating factor he uses internally now?
Winning is No. 1, but St. Brown said Thursday he wants to be great, and great players stack the kind of statistics he's had his first three seasons in the league across five, six or seven seasons. He said that's part of the motivation for him now – winning football games and chasing greatness.
EXTRA POINTS
- It was good to see veteran safety Ifeatu Melifonwu back on the practice field after he missed Tuesday's practice dealing with an ankle injury. He was listed as a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
- Johnson said anyone who is active on gameday, he'll try and find a package for and some plays for on offense. That includes running backs Craig Reynolds and Sione Vaki. Both are core special teamers, but both could get some run on offense Sunday night as well.
