Lions WR Jameson Williams won't face NFL discipline for gun incident, big offseason looms

Lions WR Jameson Williams won’t face NFL discipline for gun incident, big offseason looms

Posted by author February 19, 2025 NFL

Spread the love

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams will not face further NFL discipline after he avoided charges for carrying an unlicensed gun in Detroit during the season as a league spokesperson told the Free Press on Wednesday the matter is “closed.”

Williams, who has been suspended twice in his first three NFL seasons for violations of the league’s gambling and performance enhancing drug policies, was the passenger in a car that was pulled over for speeding in early October.

Detroit Police found two guns in the car at the time of the stop. One was registered to Williams’ brother, the driver, and the other to Williams. Williams did not have a concealed pistol license to carry the weapon at the time but later obtained the permit.

Police handcuffed Williams during the stop, but released him without charges. After the department opened an internal investigation into how a supervisor handled the stop, police submitted a warrant request for Williams’ arrest.

Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy denied the request in late November, saying she could find no legal basis to charge the high-profile receiver.

Under the NFL personal conduct policy, players are subject to suspension for conduct including “illegal possession of a gun or other weapon (such as explosives, toxic substances, and the like), or possession of a gun or other weapon in any workplace setting.”

A criminal conviction is not required for any league discipline, according to the policy.

Williams, who turns 24 next month, had a breakout 2024 season despite serving a two-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances. He finished third on the team with 58 catches and set career-highs with 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns.

A first-round pick in 2022, Williams is entering a crucial offseason. The Lions have until May to exercise the fifth-year option on Williams’ rookie contract, and Williams is eligible for a long-term extension for the first time.

The Lions made Amon-Ra St. Brown one of the highest-paid wide receivers in football last offseason and signed a handful of other cornerstone players – Jared Goff, Penei Sewell and Alim McNeill – to long-term contracts.

General manager Brad Holmes indicated in his end-of-season news conference that he would try and lock up more of the Lions’ key players this offseason, including Aidan Hutchinson and Kerby Joseph, though he was not specifically asked about Williams.

Williams had one catch for 19 yards and scored on a 61-yard reverse in the Lions’ playoff loss to the Washington Commanders, but also threw an ill-advised interception on a trick play with 12:04 to play.

Before the game, Lions coach Dan Campbell said he felt “a lot of pride” in Williams’ growth during the year.

“I love that kid cause he’s had to endure a lot,” Campbell said. “And look, some of it is his own doing and he knows that and that’s what I appreciate is that he’s – it took him a minute to buy into what we were doing. He can be a little hardheaded and it’s also why you love him, it’s why I love him.

“But, man, he’s learned along the way and he’s grown and honestly, you want to say what is the best thing he’s done is that when he finally dropped the armor and he endeared himself to his teammates. He became part of the team and that took place last year, towards the end of last year you could start to feel it. And it’s only gotten better and better and better and every one of these that’s happened, he’s grown. He’s learning from it, and I love where he’s at. I really do, I’m proud of him.”

Dave Birkett is the author of the book, “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline.” Order your copy here. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.