Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams has improved in every year of his NFL career. After redshirting for most of his rookie season while recovering from an ACL injury, he’s been able to increase his productivity in each year. He went for just 354 yards in 2023, but pushed that to 1,001 yards in 2024. Last year, he set career highs in receptions (65), receiving yards (1,117), and tied his previous mark of seven receiving touchdowns.
But Williams isn’t resting on his laurels going into 2026.
He’s looking to improve the part of his game that can rear its ugly head every now and then.
“Catching, that was my main thing. Catching. I wanted to get better at catching,” Williams said last Thursday.
While an unofficial stat, Williams was credited by Pro-Football-Reference with 12 drops last season, which was not only a career-high, but it was more than anyone else in the NFL. His issues with drops have been well-documented in practice, as well.
For Williams, there isn’t one specific technique he believes he needs to work on or a drill that will help him become a more reliable catcher. It’s simply fixing the mentals
“It’s a mind thing. It’s a mind thing to me,” Williams said.
Whether that means improving his focus or just working on mental reps and envisioning the ball in his hands, this is just another example of Williams’ commitment to getting better every year. He’s previously built up strength to improve his releases against physical corners, And he’s devoted himself to hard work with a little help from backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who returned to the team this year after spending a season with the Buccaneers.
“He’s played a big, huge part in my career,” Williams said. “That’s my brother, man. I look up to him. He’s a really great guy, great person. So it’s always great to be around Teddy.
But a fair amount of credit is due to Williams himself. He’s put in the work necessary to improve every year, and last year it paid off, particularly down the stretch. In the last six games of the season, he put up 555 yards and had at least 70 yards in all but one game. That level of week-to-week consistency had previously alluded him.
“I’m always motivated to be the best and do the best. So I guess that’s just me,” Williams said. “I guess things was just going my way toward the end of the season, and I was just showcasing a little bit.”
