2 min read • June 28, 2022
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Detroit Lions rookie WR Jameson Williams has potential to be a standout NFL player, but it’s important to be patient with the first round pick, as he enters 2022 with an SIC health score of a 53.
Williams tore his left ACL in the National Championship game roughly five months ago, and ACL recoveries typically take anywhere from 9-12 months for a return to play.
Once he is able to return to play, the key becomes when he will have confidence making decisive cuts and decelerating with his left leg, according to our team of Pro Football Docs.
Williams will likely not be 100% back until he’s two years removed from the ACL tear, although it’s possible he shows flashes of his immense talent before then.
However, Lions fans and fantasy owners must be patient with the 21-year-old.
There's a reason he was taken ninth overall, even with a torn ACL.
After a dismal statistical period at Ohio State, Williams had 79 catches for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns for Alabama last season.
Prior to that, he had just 15 catches for 266 yards as a Buckeye.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell told Sports Illustrated, “Look, we want to get him out there as fast as possible, and is it crucial? It is crucial, but not until he gets his strength up,” Campbell said. “He needs a lot of strength development in that body, his lower extremities, his legs, his knees, his everything. So, until he’s able to stabilize himself, and really get some strength that we feel good about to where he can protect himself, he can protect that knee, and he can compete, and compete at a high level, we’re not going to put him out there.”
Of course the Lions traded up for Williams and he still has a bright future ahead of him, but it’s important to be realistic.
Not only is the former Crimson Tide WR recovering from an ACL, but he’s also needs time to adjust to the speed of the NFL.
At the very best, look for Williams to have medium production in the second half of the season. Anything beyond that would be a surprise.
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