The clock is ticking for the Detroit Lions to activate rookie wide receiver Jameson Williams. It’s a clock everyone is anxiously watching, waiting to see when the speedy first-rounder from Alabama can finally make his Detroit debut.
The Lions officially started Williams’ 21-day clock to be activated one week ago. The No. 12 overall pick remains on the NFI list while participating in practices to get ready, but he’s not quite there yet.
At least that’s what Lions head coach Dan Campbell said before Monday’s practice, the first since last Wednesday. When asked about the potential for Williams, as well as veteran DE Romeo Okwara, possibly playing against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13, Campbell pumped the brakes on the excitement a bit.
“Yeah man, I think that would be a tall order,” Campbell stated. “Anything’s open, I think. Well look, I think we need to see them be able to pull quite a few reps with high intensity and contact and versatility and whatever the job description would be. So I think – I don’t want to say it wouldn’t happen, but it would take a lot I think this week to feel good about bringing them up.”
A follow-up question asked Campbell to elaborate on the answer, and the head coach doubled down on his original statement but with just a little kiss more optimism.
“Yeah, I think so. I think so, but there again, we’re open to anything, and they’re certainly going to get more reps than they’ve gotten this week, so we’re going to get a real good look at them,” said Campbell.
Conventional wisdom stemming from the timing of Williams starting practices made this Sunday’s game against the Jaguars seem like a very logical time for “Jamo” to get on the field. That would be two weeks of working on timing and routes with QB Jared Goff, which should be enough time to have some level of comfort and familiarity. That still seems to be where the smart money is on Williams, even after Campbell’s “tall order” decree on Monday.
