The Detroit Lions were dealt a blow on the offensive side of the ball on Monday night, as news broke that wide receiver Jameson Williams is facing a two-game suspension.
According to ESPN's Eric Woodyard, Williams' ban comes from his violating the NFL's Policy against performance-enhancing substances. Williams has since confirmed he is indeed facing the two-game suspension.
“I’m in good spirits, just ready to get back with my brothers as soon as possible,” Williams told Woodyard, while also adding that he has “no choice but to take it on the chin.”
Williams was in the midst of a breakout campaign in his third season, with the former first-round pick tallying 17 catches for 361 yards and three touchdowns while also adding four carries for 32 yards. Williams' receiving totals ranked second behind Amon-Ra St. Brown.
The Lions cannot replace Williams' big-play ability with their current depth options, but that doesn't mean they're in bad shape, either.
Lions WR depth chart
| Starter | Backup |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | Isaiah Williams |
| Jameson Williams (suspended) | Tim Patrick |
| Kalif Raymond | Allen Robinson |
Tim Patrick will likely step into the No. 2 role in place of Williams, but Raymond will also get more run. Patrick in particular has done a good job stepping into the Lions' No. 3 role this season, with two games with 52 yards or more.
Beyond Patrick and Raymond, Isaiah Williams is a slot specialist and rookie who earned his way onto the roster in training camp. Allen Robinson was signed to the practice squad when Patrick was brought in but has only been targeted once in two games.
The Lions are in a good position overall. Lest we forget, they still have young star tight end Sam LaPorta and running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, all of whom are no doubt capable of helping pick up the slack for two games.
