Amon-Ra St. Brown and the Detroit Lions might lead the NFL in several categories this season, including ibuprofen consumed by opposing defensive coordinators.
The Detroit offense returns a virtual carbon copy of the unit that propelled the Lions to a 24-7 halftime lead at San Francisco in the NFC Championship Game, thanks in part to new extensions for St. Brown and two other cornerstones, quarterback Jared Goff and left tackle Penei Sewell.
But there is one significant change for the Lions in Ben Johnson’s offense this year: Wide receiver Jameson Williams is eligible for a full season.
“I feel like every year there was something that got in his way,” St. Brown said earlier this week on The Mina Kimes Show, “whether it was injury his rookie year, suspension last year. Nothing’s in his way now. He got a full training camp, preseason, everything, OTAs, and he’s looked great.”
Williams, selected 12th overall in the first round of the 2022 draft, tore his ACL in the College Football Playoff national title game and played just six games as a rookie. Then, in 2023, Williams served a suspension for violation of the league’s gambling policy and wound up playing in just 12 contests.
With all of that behind Williams, St. Brown sees another dependable option for Goff, in addition to running backs Jahymr Gibbs and David Montgomery and tight end Sam LaPorta. St. Brown expects Williams to see more one-on-one opportunities, too.
“Every game’s going to be different,” St. Brown said. “You never know who’s going to make plays. There’s going to be a time where we going to have to rely on him heavily and I think he knows that. He’s ready for it. Like I said, we have a bunch of playmakers so it’s not just on him. It’s on all of us, but he’s going to be big for us this year.”