Jameson Williams scores first touchdown of the year after returning from suspension

Jameson Williams has reached the end zone for the first time in 2023. The Lions wide receiver hauled in a long touchdown pass from Jared Goff late in the third quarter against the Buccaneers.

Goff launched a pass down the near sideline and Williams won a one-on-one battle to make the touchdown grab. That score was his first of the 2023 season. The receiver missed the first four games of the year due to an NFL-imposed suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy.

The pass and catch went down as a 45-yard score for Detroit.

Goff does DEEP to Jameson Williams for the 45-yard TD!

📺: #DETvsTB on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/B4mQvLOt8O pic.twitter.com/7SnwzpjmbM

— NFL (@NFL) October 15, 2023

Williams missed almost all of last season while recovering from an ACL injury sustained during his final year at Alabama. Now that he’s fully healthy and back on the field, he certainly makes a huge difference for Detroit’s offense.

Thanks to some help from Williams, the Lions defeated the Buccaneers 20-6 to improve to 5-1 on the season. Williams ended the game with two catches for 53 yards.

Detroit sits atop the NFC North standings with everyone else in the division sitting below .500. Right now, it looks like the Lions could run away with it — although it is only Week 6.

The Lions head to Baltimore next week. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET and the game airs on FOX.

Jameson Williams eases back into NFL game

Williams is regarded as one of the most talented young receivers in the NFL. But the problem is, because of the injury in 2022 and suspension this season, we haven’t seen much of the former Alabama star.

Though he was initially suspended six games for the gambling incident, the league reduced Williams’ punishment to four. He made his return last weekend in Detroit’s 42-24 victory over Carolina.

Williams didn’t have a huge impact on that game. He caught two passes for two yards and was targeted just three times in the game. Because of his limited time on the field, it made sense for Dan Campbell to ease him back into the offense.

Detroit had no trouble taking a shot with the young receiver in Sunday’s game in Tampa Bay. It paid off in a huge way for the Lions, too.

The St. Louis native was selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, going No. 12 overall to Detroit. He finished his rookie season with just two touches — a 41-yard touchdown reception and a 40-yard run.