ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The NFL formally introduced Thursday that Detroit Lions large receiver Jameson Williams is suspended for 2 video games with out pay for violating the NFL’s coverage on performance-enhancing substances.
Williams shall be eligible for reinstatement on Nov. 4 following the Lions’ Week 9 sport towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers, the league mentioned.
The information got here after Williams introduced that he will not attraction the league’s determination and has accepted the punishment. In a press release launched via his agent Rocky Arceneaux, Williams mentioned that “the information got here as a whole shock that I’m nonetheless making an attempt to grasp.”
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— Rocky Arceneaux (@Alliance_Sports) October 24, 2024
“I do not take dietary supplements or nutritional vitamins and I’m overly cautious about even taking over-the-counter medication,” Williams mentioned. “At no time have I ever taken one thing in an try to cheat or search for an unfair benefit. I perceive that I’m accountable for all the things that goes into my physique and I’ve to take accountability on this occasion.”
Williams has attended Lions practices for the previous two days and mentioned that the league notified him of the violation this week. He was additionally suspended for 4 video games for violating the NFL’s playing coverage in 2023 for cellular betting on non-NFL video games from a membership facility. He additionally missed the primary 11 video games of his rookie season due to an ACL harm suffered in school
Williams, the No. 12 select of Alabama within the 2022 draft, is second on the Lions in each receiving yards (361) and touchdowns (3).
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“I’ve nothing however love and respect for this sport, my teammates, coaches, the Lions group and the Metropolis of Detroit,” Williams mentioned. “It’s disappointing to just accept this suspension, and it’ll harm me to be away from the staff as they put together this week. So out of respect to my teammates, this would be the final time I tackle this matter.”
Though Williams’ profession has gotten off to a bumpy begin, Lions head coach Dan Campbell says he nonetheless has religion that Williams can develop from this incident. The staff will depend on its different receiving weapons corresponding to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Allen Robinson, Kalif Raymond, Tim Patrick and tight finish Sam LaPorta to assist decide up the slack.
“I belief this child. I belief him. And sadly, you have to pay on your sins,” Campbell mentioned Wednesday. “If one thing occurs and this comes down, so be it. However I do know this, we dangled the rope down on the way in which up. We will not look ahead to anyone.
“And over a yr in the past, he began climbing his manner up and he bought to us. And perhaps he misplaced his grip, however he’ll climb again up once more. That rope’s nonetheless there. It is tied to us, and he’ll be simply fantastic, however he is a part of this staff and I belief him.”
Following Thursday’s apply, St. Brown echoed Campbell’s sentiments concerning the staff sustaining belief in Williams regardless of the most recent suspension. St. Brown mentioned the staff will miss his velocity and explosive means on sport days, and he described the scenario as being “unlucky,” however the receivers room has labored to maintain him in a great spirit.
“All of us talked to him as receivers. He is doing fantastic, his psychological area … he is good,” St. Brown mentioned. “No matter occurred, occurred, and he is gonna transfer on from it and he is dealt with it like a grown man.”
On Monday night time, Williams mentioned he was disillusioned with the present suspension however that he has “no alternative however to take it on the chin.”
“I am in good spirits simply able to get again with [my] brothers ASAP,” Williams instructed ESPN by way of textual content.
