Jamaal Williams was one of the most beloved players for the Detroit Lions during his two-year stint with the team from 2021-22. His energy was palpable, he showed leadership in times of strife, and he was also pretty dang good, rushing for 17 touchdowns in 2022—a franchise high at the time. He left Detroit after a free agency contract dispute, and his career fizzled away after two unsuccessful years with the New Orleans Saints.
Williams has been out of football since the end of the 2024 season, but
he wants back, and he’s been keeping in shape to do so. Apparently he is very much interested in a reunion in Detroit, despite a slightly messy divorce in 2023. Williams told the Detroit Free Press this past weekend that he called Lions coach Dan Campbell about a possible return to Detroit. Campbell responded that they’d keep the door open, but his services were not needed at this time.
“He reached out to Lions coach Dan Campbell last weekend to let Campbell know he was on the comeback trail,” Dave Birkett wrote. “And while Campbell said the Lions are holding tight at running back for now but would keep him in mind if things change, Williams is hopeful he’ll land a job soon and ready to contribute when he does.”
As for the way things ended in Detroit, Williams doesn’t take it personally.
“I didn’t want to go nowhere. I wanted to be there,” Williams told Birkett. “That’s where I wanted to be, but at the same time it’s just like, ‘We just got done having this crazy season, what am I doing that you don’t think I deserve?’ And they had their right, they have their things and it’s cool. And then at the time, it was just the Saints who offered what I wanted. They gave it to me and I ended up there. And that’s pretty much it. There’s no personal feelings, no hard feelings.”
The Lions are down their RB2 with Isiah Pacheco sidelined indefinitely after going through back surgery recently. Reports suggest Pacheco won’t be back until December at the earliest, potentially leaving a power back role for someone like Williams.
However, the Lions have increased the workload of Jahmyr Gibbs, which has severely lessened the role of backup running back in Detroit. Through two weeks, Gibbs’ is currently tied with Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker for the most touches in the NFL (56).
Beyond that, the Lions have shown a lot of faith in 2024 fourth-round pick Sione Vaki to pick up the slack. Though he only has three rushes and two catches, Vaki has played 33 offensive snaps, providing Gibbs with some rest and the Lions offense with a decent pass protector. Detroit also has Jacob Saylors, a strong special teamer who proved he has some rushing skills when he led the NFL in rushing yards this preseason.
As Campbell told Williams, their situation could certainly change. But, for now, it looks like any hope for a reunion between the Lions and Williams is not in the cards.
