By Mummy Grace Tyleik Williams hasn’t even hit the field at full strength yet, but the Lions’ rookie defensive tackle has already won over someone who matters most—head coach Dan Campbell.
According to ESPN’s Eric Woodyard, Williams has been limited in camp while rehabbing some lower-body injuries. But despite that, Campbell is all in on the former Ohio State standout. “He is smart. He can get lined up. I know he’s been grinding in the rehab, the training, so that’s good,” Campbell said.
That’s high praise for a guy who hasn’t had much on-field time with his new team yet.
Williams came into the league known as a run-stuffing beast after anchoring Ohio State’s defensive line. Across four college seasons, he racked up 136 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, and 11.5 sacks. The Lions snagged him in the first round hoping he could bring that same power to a defense that got banged up hard last year.
With Alim McNeill still sidelined after a torn ACL, Detroit could end up leaning on Williams sooner than later. He may not be known for flashy pass-rushing, but his ability to plug the middle and take pressure off guys like Aidan Hutchinson could prove huge—especially early in the season.
Even if he’s not at 100% yet, Williams is already making a strong impression in the locker room. And that says a lot about the kind of guy Detroit just added to its defensive core.
