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    The NFL officially gives the Lions 2 games
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    The NFL officially gives the Lions 2 games

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    If the Detroit Lions want to continue their winning streak into November, they will have to do without the services of Jameson Williams.

    The NFL made Williams' suspension official Thursday afternoon, suspending him for two games for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. He will miss Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans and the Lions' Nov. 3 game at the Green Bay Packers.

    Williams ranks second on the Lions with 361 yards on 17 catches and second in the NFL with an average of 21.2 yards per catch. He has been a key offensive weapon for a Lions team that has won four straight games to secure first place in the NFC North but is also struggling with the loss of top pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson.

    Williams released a statement on the matter through his agent.

    READ ABOVE: Dan Campbell throws Jamo another lifeline with a suspension mismatch

    Who will replace Jameson Williams?

    The Lions' other receivers are Amon-Ra St. Brown, Tim Patrick and Kalif Raymond.

    Lions coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday in his weekly radio interview on WXYT-FM that the team is preparing for Williams' absence.

    “We'll be fine,” Campbell said, before ticking off a list of other offensive players the Lions will rely on in Williams' absence. “That’s why we have Leaf and Saint and (Sam) LaPorta and TP and Allen Robinson, with David Montgomery, (Jahmyr) Gibbs among others. So we'll be fine, we'll move on when this thing is over.”, if so, then we'll be fine.

    St. Brown leads the Lions (5-1) with 39 catches for 401 yards, and Patrick, Raymond and Robinson will likely move up the receiver pecking order in Williams' absence.

    THE PLAN: How the Lions plan to replace Jameson Williams at WR: 'We'll be good here'

    LaPorta, who got off to a slow start after an 86-catch rookie season (14 catches, 224 yards), could contribute more to the offense, and the Lions boast one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL, led by Montgomery and Gibbs.

    What the Lions will be missing with Jameson Williams suspended

    No one on the roster has the speed to match Williams' ability to challenge the defense.

    A first-round pick and No. 12 overall out of Alabama in 2022 after the Lions traded up 20 spots, Williams had a volatile start to his NFL career.

    As a rookie, he missed eleven games due to a torn ACL suffered in his final college game and was suspended six games (later reduced to four) to begin the 2023 season for violating the NFL's gambling policy.

    Williams appeared to have turned things around this season as he received effusive praise from coaches and teammates for his greater maturity on and off the field. Campbell has praised Williams' contributions as a blocker and what that means for the Lions' running game, and quarterback Jared Goff said last week that Williams has worked hard to become a more integral part of the offense this year.

    “A lot of work, a lot of reps, a lot of reps, a lot of time together, communication,” Goff said. “He’s growing tremendously and getting better and better.”

    Williams is eligible to return to the Lions on Nov. 4 and play in this week's Sunday night game against the AFC South-leading Houston Texans.

    Contact Dave Birkett at [email protected]. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.

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