By Moses Joshua 
Detroit’s young receiver shines in defeat—but Dan Campbell’s latest comments hint his role could shrink soon.
Williams Finally Finds His Rhythm
After weeks of inconsistency and criticism, Jameson Williams finally gave the Detroit Lions the kind of performance fans had been waiting for. In the team’s Week 9 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the speedy wideout hauled in four catches for 66 yards and a touchdown—his best outing since returning from injury.
The flashes of explosiveness were undeniable. Williams stretched the field, found soft spots in coverage, and gave Jared Goff a reliable deep threat. Yet, despite his breakout game, head coach Dan Campbell seems intent on shaking up the receiving corps heading into Week 10.
Campbell Calls for More Involvement From TeSlaa and Raymond
Speaking on Costa & Jansen with Heather on 97.1 The Ticket, Campbell made it clear he wants to see more from other members of the WR room—specifically Isaac TeSlaa and Kalif Raymond.
«“I’d like to get him [TeSlaa] on the field a little bit more. We need to get Kalif involved, and we need to get TeSlaa involved,” Campbell said, per The Detroit Times.»
That statement, while not a direct critique of Williams, signals that Campbell is searching for solutions to Detroit’s third-down inefficiency. The Lions’ offense has sputtered in key moments, and spreading the ball around might be his way of jumpstarting production. But for Williams, it could mean fewer targets in an already crowded passing hierarchy.
A Crowded Room Gets Even Tighter
So far, the Lions’ air attack has been dominated by Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Williams himself. Each player has topped 190 receiving yards and logged at least 20 receptions, but Campbell clearly feels the balance is off.
Williams currently trails only St. Brown in wide receiver snaps (443 to 446), a sign that Detroit has been trying to get him fully integrated. However, if TeSlaa and Raymond earn more reps, Williams’ usage could dip just as he’s finding momentum.
Given St. Brown’s elite production—ranking fourth in receptions, sixth in yards, and tied for second in touchdowns—it’s unlikely his workload will decrease. That leaves Williams as the most likely candidate to sacrifice snaps if the Lions redistribute opportunities.
The Challenge Ahead
Williams’ season has been a rollercoaster. Despite flashes of brilliance, he’s surpassed 60 receiving yards just three times in 2025. A change at offensive coordinator has undoubtedly influenced his rhythm, but consistency remains his biggest hurdle.
For a young receiver still carving out his identity, Campbell’s comments present both a challenge and an opportunity. If Williams wants to remain a focal point of Detroit’s offense, he’ll need to prove that his Week 9 performance wasn’t an anomaly—it was a turning point.
As the Lions push through a crucial stretch of the season, all eyes will be on how Williams responds to the new competition in his path.