The Detroit Lions have delayed Jameson Williams’ second season due to his recent suspension from the NFL. Williams, who was a first-round pick in 2022, is one of four Lions players suspended for violating the league’s gambling policy. The other players involved in the scandal are safety C.J. Moore, wide receiver Quintez Cephus, and Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney. Moore and Cephus have been suspended indefinitely and have been released by the Lions, while Toney has also received an indefinite suspension for betting on NFL games during the 2022 season.
In contrast, Lions wide receivers Stanley Berryhill and Williams faced a suspension of only six games. Williams’ agency, Alliance Sports, provided a clarification for the reason for the six-game suspension of their client and how it varied from the suspensions of Cephus, Toney, and Moore.
In a statement, Alliance Sports confirmed that their client, Jameson Williams, had been suspended by the NFL for six games for breaching the league’s gambling policy. The statement explained that Jameson had taken full responsibility for his actions and was remorseful to the NFL, his teammates, and the fans of Detroit. However, it was emphasized that Jameson’s infraction was not related to betting on football, but rather a technicality regarding the location of the online bet. This particular type of bet would have been permissible outside of the club’s facility under NFL rules. The statement concluded by assuring that Jameson would never intentionally compromise the integrity of the sport he cherished and looked forward to rejoining his team at the earliest opportunity.
The NFL has a rule against players and employees gambling on games or using league facilities for gambling. The Lions have disclosed that Williams and Berryhill were suspended for six games after betting on non-NFL games at a team facility, rather than being banned for the entire season. According to the league’s investigation, there is no proof to suggest that any insider information was utilized or that the outcome of any game was affected.
Williams was among the most sought-after receiver prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft, prompting the Lions to trade up and secure him at the No. 12 position. However, his NFL debut was delayed until Week 13 as a result of a torn ACL he sustained during the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game while playing for Alabama.Despite only catching a single pass during his rookie season, Williams made it count by scoring a 41-yard touchdown in the first quarter of a Week 14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
