Lions' Jameson Williams won't face further discipline from NFL over gun-related incident

Nolan Bianchi, The Detroit News on Feb 19, 2025

Published in Football

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DETROIT — Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams will not face further discipline from the NFL relating to a gun-related incident that took place in Detroit last October, an NFL spokesperson confirmed to The Detroit News on Wednesday.

Williams was the passenger of a routine traffic stop in which police said two guns were found in the car, with one being registered to his brother and the other belonging to the Lions receiver. A problem arose when police said that one of the weapons was registered to Williams, who did not have a concealed pistol license.

Prosecutors investigated the case after Williams was arrested and then released at the scene of the traffic stop on Oct. 8. After Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy’s office cleared Williams of charges in November, the NFL spokesperson said Wednesday the “matter is closed” on the NFL’s end as well, meaning Williams will avoid any and all discipline for the incident.

The Lions declined to comment on the update to Williams' disciplinary status.

The traffic stop was one of two major incidents this past season for Williams, who just achieved his first 1,000-yard season since being drafted 12th overall by Detroit in 2022. He also served a two-game suspension for violating the league’s Performance Enhancing Substances policy, his second suspension since joining the league; he also was suspended six games (later reduced to four) to begin the 2023 season for violating the league’s gambling policy.

The news on Williams' avoidance of further discipline is rather timely. In just a few short weeks, he'll be eligible for a contract extension and can have his fifth-year option picked up by the team when the new NFL league year begins on March 12 (4 p.m.). Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, the No. 2 pick in 2022, is also up for a contract extension this offseason.

Williams just completed his most productive season as a professional. He caught 58 passes for 1,001 yards and eight total touchdowns, and was an explosive-play machine. He had four touchdowns or more than 50 yards during the regular season and took a reverse 61 yards to the house in Detroit's 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders in the NFC divisional round.

Detroit is expected to pick up Williams' fifth-year option, which has a projected cap hit of around $15.6 million. Still, Williams' off-the-field troubles are the biggest deterrents to getting a major contract extension finished this offseason. Though none of Williams' missteps can be classified as malicious, he has thus far shown an inability to adhere to various rules and laws, which has jeopardized the success of his team at a crucial time.

Lions coach Dan Campbell and other Detroit assistants routinely backed Williams through his mistakes.

"I trust this kid," Campbell said in late October. "I trust him, and unfortunately, you've got to pay for your sins, and something happens and if this comes down, then 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."

While the team knew about Williams' incident with Detroit police shortly after it occurred, it wasn't made public until WXYZ-TV broke the story on Oct. 29, while Williams was serving his two-game suspension in games against the Tennessee Titans (Oct. 27) and Green Bay Packers (Nov. 3). Detroit went 2-0 in that span.

Upon returning from his suspension, Williams said he had to "be smarter."

"Move smarter and be smarter," Williams said. "Make the right decisions at the right time. That's the main thing. ... I don't really want to address those types of things. I figure people already have their own types of views and stuff like that. I'm just going to stay away from talking about those things."