Detroit Lions supporters have been encouraged to watch head coach Dan Campbell increase Jameson Williams’ involvement in the offense across the last two matchups. This surge comes after the young wide receiver spent much of the first eight games struggling to find consistent footing.
Williams delivered a breakout performance in Week 10 against the Washington Commanders, grabbing six passes on seven targets for 119 yards and a touchdown. He followed that with another strong outing against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night, recording four catches (again on seven targets) for 88 yards and scoring Detroit’s only touchdown of the second quarter.
But shortly after that score, Williams drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for a post-touchdown celebration that involved making contact with the goalpost. The flag pushed Detroit’s extra-point attempt back to 48 yards—a difficult kick in the heavy wind at Lincoln Financial Field. Kicker Jake Bates ultimately missed, leaving the score knotted at 6-6.
The missed PAT wasn’t the deciding factor in Detroit’s loss, but Campbell still addressed the moment after the game. As reported by ESPN’s Eric Woodyard, Campbell delivered a blunt message to Williams: “Great play, but don’t do that again.”
Dan Campbell Gives Jameson Williams a Much-Needed Warning
There’s room to debate whether the officials needed to throw the flag, but once Williams hit the goalpost, he opened the door for them to make that call.
Given how aggressively the NFL has been policing celebrations this season—including anything that hints at taunting—Williams has to stay aware of what could cost his team. Flashy celebrations may be fun, but they’re not worth risking yardage or points.
In a high-stakes game where every possession is crucial, moments like that can shift momentum. Instead of celebrating the impressive route and blazing speed that allowed Williams to outrun Eagles corner Adoree’ Jackson, the conversation became centered on the penalty.
From a fan’s perspective, though, it’s encouraging to see Campbell strike a balance—acknowledging Williams’ big play while firmly reinforcing expectations. It’s also promising to see the young receiver gaining confidence and producing at a high level again, as long as the goalposts stop being part of his celebrations.
Ideally, this will be the final time Campbell needs to address these types of mistakes. Another costly flag later in the season could prompt a harsher response from the coach—and potentially impact the Lions’ playoff hopes.
