Originally posted on Side Lion Report | By Brad Berreman | Last updated 10/24/24
More than 48 hours after it was initially reported, news came that Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams will not appeal his two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance policy. A two-game suspension, per the policy, comes when a player tests positive for a “stimulant, diuretic or masking agent.”
Since the news first broke, head coach Dan Campbell consistently said the Lions were planning to be without Williams in Week 8 against the Tennessee Titans. That was as strong an indicator as anything that Williams would be suspended, and Campbell knew more than he could say before the league office made an announcement.
As unfortunate as a second suspension for Williams in as many seasons is, it also brings opportunity for others. There’s no way to really replace what he adds to the Lions’ offense, but one of the best offenses in the league has a lot of weapons to cover for his absence.
In particular, these Lions players are in line to benefit most from Williams’ two-game absence. He will also miss Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers.
5 Lions players who stand to benefit most during Jameson Williams’ suspension
5. WR Isaiah Williams
Williams earned a spot on the 53-man roster with an excellent preseason, but he has yet to suit up for his first NFL regular season game. The rookie UDFA out of Illinois feels sure to be in uniform over the next two games, as an option for offensive snaps and possibly as a return man (9.1 yards per punt return over his final two college seasons). During the preseason 82 of his 123 receiving yards came after the catch, so he’s got some juice there.
Comments from offensive coordinator Ben Johnson on Thursday seem like a strong hint Williams has earned an opportunity to suit up on game days, perhaps even if Jameson Williams wasn’t suspended.
4. WR Kalif Raymond
Raymond has been sneaky productive over the last two games, with seven catches for 112 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. Finding ways to get him more involved in the offense is always a challenge with all the other mouths the Lions have around to feed.
During his Wednesday press conference, Campbell took a fresh opportunity to laud Raymond when asked about how much confidence he has in knowing there’s a “reliable guy” in place.
“A ton of confidence. I told you, ‘Lif really, he’s really, he’s one of our starters, he’s a spot starter. You know, we use him enough…Everybody’s got the most, the utmost trust in ‘Lif, man, he’s been here since the beginning, I mean the guy does everything right. He’s smart, he’s competitive, he’s got speed…let’s not forget.”
Raymond is automatically in line for more offensive snaps in Jameson Williams’ absence, however he’s deployed (in the slot, on the outside, etc.). He may cede some return game work to others (Isaiah Williams?) over the next two games, but there’s opportunity for him to impactful to the offense.
3. WR Tim Patrick
Patrick, signed to the practice squad heading into the season, has emerged as the Josh Reynolds replacement the Lions were seeking. He is sheerly in line for more playing time with Jameson Williams out of the mix, particularly as an outside receiver, and he has clearly become a trusted target for Jared Goff (just like Reynolds was).
Patrick is averaging 16.5 yards per catch (10 catches for 165 yards, on 12 targets) and 13.8 yards per target in five games this season. If he qualified for the leaderboard heading into Week 8, he’d be top-10 in the league in yards per catch and he’d be second in yards per target.
If anyone can bring the downfield element to the Lions’ passing game in Jameson Williams’ absence, it looks to be Patrick with a combination of sufficient speed, a big frame and contested catch ability. There will be no divvying up of those downfield opportunities over the next two games.
2. WR Allen Robinson
By all accounts Robinson has brought a veteran presence and work ethic since the Lions signed him to the practice squad after final roster cuts around the league. He was signed to the active roster after playing one snap in his team debut (Week 3), and the only other action he has seen to this point (nine snaps) came in the blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6.
Campbell has included Robinson on the list of players who can help fill the void left by Williams if/when he was suspended all week long, and on Wednesday he directly named Robinson as someone in line for a bigger workload in Williams’ absence.
“I would say Allen Robinson, I mean we just went through the walkthrough, I mean, he’s going to take on a heavy load here, too”, Campbell said. “Talk about a pro, man, I mean, he’s locked in. Everything we just went through, I mean, it’s meticulous, which fires you up.”
Robinson has been easy to dismiss as past his prime based on a drop-off in production over the last few seasons. But he’s got a good situation with the Lions, and now opportunity is knocking.
1. TE Sam LaPorta
To put it mildly, LaPorta has had a slow start to his second season. He actually has 17 targets in six games (14 receptions for 224 yards and one touchdown), but the point below from fantasy football analyst Kyle Yates still pretty much holds.
The big target share Jameson Williams had in the first two games this season hasn’t held up in subsequent weeks, as expected. But that reduction in target volume also hasn’t done anything for LaPorta’s opportunity volume.
The Titans (the Lions’ aforementioned Week 8 opponent) enters the week tied for the fewest receptions allowed to tight ends (18, with a caveat of already having their bye). The Packers, coming in Week 9 on the Lions’ schedule, enter Week 8 tied for the fourth-most receptions allowed to tight ends (39).
LaPorta’s target share (10 percent, 53rd among 62 tight ends who’ve played at last 50 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus) can’t drop much more. The next couple games could be a turning point for his season, with more targets seeming natural to come his way.