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Eric Woodyard, ESPNOct 24, 2024, 02:44 PM ET
- Eric Woodyard covers the Detroit Lions for ESPN. He joined ESPN in September 2019 as an NBA reporter dedicated to the Midwest region before switching to his current role in April 2021. The Flint, Mich. native is a graduate of Western Michigan University and has authored/co-authored three books: “Wasted, Ethan’s Talent Search” and “All In: The Kelvin Torbert Story”. He is a proud parent of one son, Ethan. You can follow him on Twitter: @E_Woodyard
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The NFL officially announced Thursday that Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams is suspended for two games without pay for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Williams will be eligible for reinstatement on Nov. 4 following the Lions’ Week 9 game against the Green Bay Packers, the league said.
The news came after Williams announced that he won’t appeal the league’s decision and has accepted the punishment. In a statement released through his agent Rocky Arceneaux, Williams said that “the news came as a complete surprise that I am still trying to understand.”
— Rocky Arceneaux (@Alliance_Sports) October 24, 2024
“I don’t take supplements or vitamins and I am overly cautious about even taking over-the-counter medicine,” Williams said. “At no time have I ever taken something in an attempt to cheat or look for an unfair advantage. I understand that I am responsible for everything that goes into my body and I have to take accountability in this instance.”
Williams has attended Lions practices for the past two days and said that the league notified him of the violation this week. He was also suspended for four games for violating the NFL’s gambling policy in 2023 for mobile betting on non-NFL games from a club facility. He also missed the first 11 games of his rookie season because of an ACL injury suffered in college
Williams, the No. 12 pick out of Alabama in the 2022 draft, is second on the Lions in both receiving yards (361) and touchdowns (3).
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“I have nothing but love and respect for this game, my teammates, coaches, the Lions organization and the City of Detroit,” Williams said. “It is disappointing to accept this suspension, and it will hurt me to be away from the team as they prepare this week. So out of respect to my teammates, this will be the last time I address this matter.”
Although Williams’ career has gotten off to a bumpy start, Lions head coach Dan Campbell says he still has faith that Williams can grow from this incident. The team will rely on its other receiving weapons such as Amon-Ra St. Brown, Allen Robinson, Kalif Raymond, Tim Patrick and tight end Sam LaPorta to help pick up the slack.
“I trust this kid. I trust him. And unfortunately, you’ve got to pay for your sins,” Campbell said Wednesday. “If something happens and this comes down, so be it. But I know this, we dangled the rope down on the way up. We can’t wait for anybody.
“And over a year ago, he started climbing his way up and he got to us. And maybe he lost his grip, but he’ll climb back up again. That rope’s still there. It’s tied to us, and he’ll be just fine, but he’s part of this team and I trust him.”
Following Thursday’s practice, St. Brown echoed Campbell’s sentiments about the team maintaining trust in Williams despite the latest suspension. St. Brown said the team will miss his speed and explosive ability on game days, and he described the situation as being “unfortunate,” but the receivers room has worked to keep him in a good spirit.
“We all talked to him as receivers. He’s doing fine, his mental space … he’s good,” St. Brown said. “Whatever happened, happened, and he’s gonna move on from it and he’s handled it like a grown man.”
On Monday night, Williams said he was disappointed with the current suspension but that he has “no choice but to take it on the chin.”
“I’m in good spirits just ready to get back with [my] brothers ASAP,” Williams told ESPN via text.
