Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams completed his four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s gambling policy and could make his season debut Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.
Williams, the 12th overall pick in the 2022 draft, rejoined the team on Tuesday.
“Today was one of those better days in the last month,” Williams told reporters on Tuesday. “Just getting out there and getting on the field. We had a good day yesterday, so today I put pads on and I feel good today out there with the guys.”
What did Williams do while away from the Lions?
“I did a lot of catching,” Williams said. “I was doing like 100 a day. It was every day. You can do the math on that. It was a lot of catches.”
Williams was limited to six games as a rookie after recovering from a torn left anterior cruciate ligament sustained at the end of his college career at Alabama. His only catch in 2022 was a 41-yard touchdown reception against the Minnesota Vikings. He also had a 40-yard rush later in the season.
He returns to a receiving corps featuring Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds and Marvin Jones Jr.
The NFL suspended Williams and four other players on April 21 for violating its gambling policy. Williams received only a four-game punishment because he placed mobile bets on non-NFL games from a club facility last year. He did not bet on NFL games.
The league has since changed its policy so that betting on non-NFL sports at a team facility or during team-related travel will result in a two-game suspension for a first violation.
“I’m not mad,” Williams said of that revision, according to ESPN. “I’m excited I get to play football and get back to it.”