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Editor’s note: This is the first installment of a season-long series on a breakout star from the past week of NFL action. The Week 1 winner: Detroit Lions receiver Jameson Williams.
After the Lions’ 26-20 overtime victory Sunday night over the Rams to open their 2024 season, Jameson Williams walked into the postgame press conference holding his first game ball at any level.
The Detroit receiver couldn’t help but smile.
“I ain’t never did this before,” he said, referencing how he was speaking at the podium.
Williams caught five passes on nine targets for a career-high 121 receiving yards (third-most among all NFL players in Week 1) and a touchdown to help guide the Lions’ win. In a game in which Detroit couldn’t get its top two pass-catchers going — stars Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta combined for seven receptions and 58 yards — the former first-round pick led the charge until the rest of the offense found its way.
That’s why Williams is FOX Sports’ breakout NFL star for Week 1.
“The best part of it is he didn’t even play his best ball,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said postgame. “There’s still so much to clean up. … He’s improving. He’s an improved player. He wants it, man.”
The Lions’ WR2 behind St. Brown, Williams is needed to consistently show up as he did in the opener. He’s widely viewed as an X-factor in Detroit’s hopes to reach the Super Bowl for the first time.
After Williams starred in training camp, many league observers pegged him as a breakout candidate in Year 3. His first two NFL seasons were impacted by a torn ACL suffered in college at Alabama — he didn’t make his NFL debut until Week 13 of his rookie year — and a suspension last season for violating the NFL’s gambling policy. After sitting out four games, he returned to put up 24 catches for 354 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games, including 10 starts.
The No. 12 overall pick in 2022, Williams has 30 receptions for 516 yards and four touchdowns in 19 appearances.
“I…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/nfl-breakout-star-lions-wr-jameson-williams
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Publish date : 2024-09-11 14:31:01
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