Third-year wide receiver Jameson Williams notched his first 1,000-yard regular season of his career, reaching 1,001 yards in Detroit's regular-season finale victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

"It meant a lot," Williams said of reaching the 1,000-yard receiving mark. "Shout out to my coaches for forcing that on me. I appreciate them a lot for that. It was huge to me and my peoples and my goals. But I'm past that, you know. We got three games left I'm trying to focus up on trying to get something on the fingers."

The NFL eyes will be on the Lions and Williams Saturday night as they host the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Williams said he wouldn't have it any other way.

"We know for sure," he said. "But that's what you do it for, you know? You want the eyes on you. I'm pretty sure everyone wants to be big time, and everyone wants to make plays, and you just have to make that play when it's coming. You know the eyes are on you, so you shouldn't let that phase you."

It hasn't phased Williams all year as he's developed into a consistent and reliable weapon. Paired with second-year running back Jahmyr Gibbs' ascension to one of the best backs in the league, that duo's emergence is one of the biggest reasons the Lions' offense has taken an even bigger leap forward in 2024.

Williams was second in the NFL this season with a 17.3-yard average per reception. He tied Washington's Terry McLaurin and Jacksonville's Brian Thomas Jr. for the NFL lead with five receptions of 50-plus yards. He is the first Lions player to log five catches of 50-or-more yards in a single season since Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson Jr. in 2013. His four 50-plus-yard touchdown receptions tied for the league lead with Cincinnati's Ja'Marr Chase.

Williams has been a huge spark for this offense all year and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will once again look to get him in space and behind the Commanders' defense Saturday night.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Thursday he has a lot of pride in how Williams has developed over the last few years.

"I love that kid," he said of Williams. "Because he has had to endure a lot and look some of it is his own doing. He knows that. It took him a minute to buy in to what we were doing. He can be a little hardheaded. It's also why you love him. It's why I love him.

"What is the best thing he's done? When he finally dropped the armor and endeared himself to his teammates. He became part of the team. That took place toward the end of last year. You could start to feel it and it's only gotten better and better and better. I love where he's at. I'm proud of him. He's part of the herd now."

ZEITLER UPDATE

Starting right guard Kevin Zeitler missed his third straight practice Thursday with a hamstring injury, putting his availability for Saturday's game in doubt, though Campbell said Zeitler has improved every day this week.

If Zeitler isn't able to go, Campbell said Thursday he has a lot of confidence in rookie Christian Mahogany being able to step in and play well.

Mahogany started in Chicago Week 16 when Graham Glasgow was injured and played pretty darn well. Campbell expects more of the same if he's called upon to step in against the Commanders.

"We felt that was a good showing by him," Campbell said of Mahogany's one start this year. "It's worthy if it goes there you give him a shot."

OFFICIALS MEETING

Washington runs a lot of their offense out of no huddle, but they also substitute while doing it and declare an extra lineman eligible out of it and it's a lot to process for the defense on the fly.

But when the offensive team substitutes personnel, the defense is supposed to get an equal chance to counter. It's why we sometimes see an official stand over the center to wait until the defense gets a chance to sub out players and packages before the offense is allowed to snap.

It's something Campbell said he'll be very cognizant of to speak with the officials about in the pregame meeting with them before Saturday's game.

"They've gotten a number of people with that," Campbell said. "They are back to the ball then they're running personnel on straight to the ball then here they go. I'll tell you this, there's a number of things have come up where they're not holding the football and that's a substitution, so we'll be on that and we'll talk about all that pregame. We're going to be able to sub and get into the packages we need to."

MR. TOUCHDOWN

Gibbs led the NFL with 20 scrimmage touchdowns during the regular season, including a career-high four touchdowns the last time we saw the Lions play Week 18 vs. the Vikings.

Gibbs had a rushing touchdown in each of Detroit's three postseason games last year and has 34 scrimmage touchdowns in 35 career games, including the playoffs, since entering the NFL in 2023.

With a touchdown Saturday vs. Washington, Gibbs can tie Hall of Famers Earl Campbell (35), Eric Dickerson (35) and Edgerrin James (35) for the second-most scrimmage touchdowns in NFL history by a player in his first two seasons, including the playoffs. Only Hall of Famer Curtis Martin (37) has more.