The Detroit Lions have not yet decided if Jameson Williams will make his NFL debut Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the excitement is building for Williams’ return.
Lions cornerback Jerry Jacobs called Williams’ playmaking ability “legit” after going against him in practice Thursday, and receiver DJ Chark predicted Williams will be a “superstar.”
“I think we’re all excited, man,” Chark said. “The excitement that you guys feel, that we feel is real. I definitely believe he’s a superstar, so anything I can do to help a guy like that, I’m here and he knows that.”
Asked why he believes Williams, the No. 12 pick in April’s draft, will be a superstar, Chark said it’s not just his speed.
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“One thing about him that a lot of guys don’t have is the confidence, just the confidence in himself to go out there and make the play,” Chark said. “If you have that, that’s half the battle. If you believe you can make the play, you will make the play. And I feel like he has that and once we can get him acclimated into the system, now you got guys like Saint (Amon-Ra St. Brown), him, Leaf (Kalif Raymond), J-Rey (Josh Reynolds), me. Sky’s the limit.”
Williams took part in individual drills and one-on-ones in practice Wednesday and handled “a pretty good load of” scout-team reps Thursday.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said Williams, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last Jan. 10, “looked better (Thursday) than he did the day before and I anticipate he’ll look a little better today.”
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On Monday, Campbell said Williams was a long shot to play against the Jaguars. Asked Friday if that remains the case, Campbell said, “Yeah, I mean, there again, I haven’t made a decision on that.”
“This was all about just getting his legs under him,” Campbell said.
The Lions (4-7) have six games left in the regular season and plan to work Williams into their offense as a vertical threat once he’s ready for game action.
Williams said he feels prepared enough to play Sunday, but won’t push coaches to get him on the field.
“I’m feeling good, feeling back to myself,” Williams told reporters Thursday. “I got a chance to get out there and get some routes, run some plays with the team, do a little bit, so I’m feeling really good right now.”
Williams said he has spent “a lot” of time discussing route concepts with Lions quarterback Jared Goff in recent weeks as he digests the offense, and coordinator Ben Johnson said he wants to see a chemistry between Williams and Goff before he’s ready to put the rookie on the field.
“I mean, shoot, (Wednesday) was the first time I think Jared’s thrown the ball to him, routes on air or competitive setting, so that takes time,” Johnson said. “It’s different than you acquire Josh Reynolds middle of the season, and instantly, that connection’s there. So we’re in a race to develop that as fast as we can, push that envelope, and that’s just time on task. That’s really all it is.”
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.