Jameson Williams throws punch at teammate during Detroit Lions training camp
Things got heated at Detroit Lions training camp on Monday, as NFL insider Dov Kleiman reported that wide receiver Jameson Williams got into an altercation with undrafted defensive back Starling Thomas throwing a punch at him.
Apparently, the punch came after Thomas forced an incomplete pass versus Williams and began to talk trash to the former Alabama standout. Kleiman’s report says that Williams’ was not having his strongest practice, dropping multiple passes, and Thomas’ trash talk must have pushed him past his boiling point.
Williams will already miss the Lions’ first six games of the season after violating the NFL’s gambling policy, and it will definitely be interesting to see if the footage of his physical altercation at training camp ever surfaces following the events of Monday’s practice.
The Lions traded up to select Williams with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft following an impressive season with the Crimson Tide where he had 79 receptions for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns. His season unfortunately ended with a devastating knee injury, tearing his ACL in his final collegiate game in the national championship, but that didn’t stop Detroit from selecting speedy wideout from Saint Louis.
Williams missed the first 12 games of the 2022 season as a result of the injury he suffered in college, but was able to work himself back into the mix in the final six games of the season where he recorded nine catches for 41 yards and a touchdown.
He won’t be able to join the team on the field for games until Detroit’s Week 7 matchup versus the Baltimore Ravens, but will join an offense with various young, exciting playmakers like Amon-Ra St. Brown and rookies Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Getting into fights at practice is not the best news in the world, but if Williams can handle his business on and off the field ahead of his 2023 season debut, he still has the chance to be an impactful contributor and potential breakout performing in Detroit’s offense this year.
Antwaan Randle El serving as a mentor for Jameson Williams
Jameson Williams has already been dealt a tough hand just one season into his NFL career, missing the first 12 games of his rookie season to injury and missing the first six games of the upcoming season due to a suspension.
But thankfully, former NFL wideout and current Detroit Lions wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El has helped guide Williams through his journey.
“I don’t have to motivate him much when it comes to ball. He loves the game and wants to be better and works at it,” Randle El told Nolan Bianchi of the Detroit News. “But the encouragement part, with all that’s going on, . . . it’s just, ‘Hey, keep doing what you’re doing; stay at it, in terms of working hard. This is just another stumbling block that, again, you’ll come out stronger on the other side.’”