The Detroit Lions' transition from Ben Johnson to John Morton as the offensive coordinator has largely been a smooth one. Yes, the Lions aren't the best offense in the league like they were last year through the first eight weeks of the season, but they rank third in points and eighth in total yards. Their rushing attack has been especially effective, but the passing game has lagged so far, with one of the main reasons being Jameson Williams' ineffectiveness.
After earning a three-year, $83 million contract extension in the offseason following his 1,000-yard season in 2024, Williams is off to a very slow start. He has only game with 100-plus yards, and just had a game with zero catches against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the bye week. He is currently on pace for 702 receiving yards and five touchdowns for the season, as his targets have gone down by nearly two per game compared to last year.
Despite all this, however, the 24-year-old WR isn't too bothered. He revealed that he "isn't allowing himself to get frustrated by the lack of touches", per ESPN's Eric Woodyard. He then went on to credit former Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater for instilling him with this attitude.
Williams said that when things weren't going his way, Bridgewater would always tell him to "stay focused, keep moving forward."
Teddy Bridgewater Has Made a Huge Impact on Jameson Williams
This is a very mature attitude to have from a young and talented playmaker. Williams has had his share of struggles early in his career, including a torn ACL, dropped passes, and off-field issues. In his fourth year, however, Williams seems to be in a great headspace, thanks to Bridgewater.
The Lions signed Bridgewater two years in a row for precisely this reason. The veteran QB didn't get a chance to suit up for the Lions, but was a vocal leader and an excellent locker room presence. Head coach Dan Campbell brought him on as a mentor to the team, and the impact he has made is obvious by Williams wanting to continue working with him.
Morton has accepted responsibility for his inability to get Williams more touches, saying that he has "failed him." The most obvious sign of this is the fact that Williams' average depth of target has gone from 11.2 yards from a season ago to 17.0 this year. This suggests that the offense isn't able to get Williams the ball in any situation that is not a deep throw.
Morton needs to get more creative in where to get Williams the ball rather than solely using him as a deep threat.
Williams understands that he has too much talent, and this offense is too good for him not to get the touches he needs eventually. Whether that starts right away against the Vikings on Sunday remains to be seen.