After serving a two-week suspension, Jameson Williams is back practicing with the Detroit Lions.
“What did I learn?” Williams mused Wednesday in the Lions’ locker room. “Just to be smarter, I suppose. Make wiser choices. Be a bigger person in some situations. Those are the big things.”
Williams was suspended two weeks for breaching the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy. He declined to specify what substance led to his suspension.
“I don’t really want to discuss those things,” he said. “It’s all on the internet. People already have their opinions, so I’ll just avoid that topic.”
Lions coach Dan Campbell believes Williams will learn from the suspension.
“Anytime you can’t play, it makes you reflect and view things from another perspective,” Campbell said. “It’s painful not to play, especially when there’s no one to blame but yourself. He’ll be fine; I’m sure he’ll grow from it. He’s focused and ready, and I believe he’ll come out strong.”
BCampbell’s support “means a lot” to Williams.
“That’s my head coach,” Williams said. “We’ve been through a lot, had some disagreements, but now, I see he believes in me. He understands what happened. It’s meaningful, him standing by me.”
While suspended, Williams attended meetings and trained but wasn’t allowed on the field with the team.
“I’m good,” he said. “It was just two weeks. I’ve been suspended before. I don’t see it as a positive, but I had to miss time. I’ve always been the same person.”
Williams was encouraged by his teammates’ support.
“They’re my brothers,” he said. “When someone’s down, you lift them up, just like I’d do for anyone else.”
During his suspension, Williams was like other Lions fans — watching the games on TV.
He tuned in to see the Lions beat the Titans and Packers.
“I watched with my little brother at home,” Williams said. “I watched both games. It was fun, but I just kept thinking, ‘I can’t wait to get back out there.’ I miss the guys and practicing.”
B“I know a lot of NFL players from playing Madden,” Williams joked. “He was tough on Madden. I’m really hoping he’ll help us. I know he will.”
