Detroit Lions offensive coordinator John Morton made headlines this week with an unusually candid admission about his handling of wide receiver Jameson Williams. During the team’s bye week self-evaluation, Morton revealed that he met privately with Williams to discuss the young receiver’s limited involvement in the offense — and took full responsibility for it.
“I looked at everything and I failed him,” Morton told reporters. “That’s what I told him to his face. I’ve got to do a better job with that.”
Morton’s statement reflects growing scrutiny over Williams’ slow start to the 2025 season. After a breakout 2024 campaign where he surpassed 1,000 receiving yards and scored seven touchdowns, Williams has been far less involved this year. Through seven games, he has just 17 receptions for 289 yards and two touchdowns, including a recent game where he was targeted only twice and went catchless against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Morton explained that part of the issue stems from Detroit’s evolving offensive dynamics. Defenses are now keying heavily on Amon-Ra St. Brown, forcing the Lions to adjust their coverage reads and third-down schemes. Still, the offensive coordinator believes it’s his job to ensure Williams’ game-breaking speed and route-running ability aren’t wasted. “It’s my responsibility to find ways to get him open,” Morton said. “We’ve got to make sure he’s part of every plan — not just the deep-ball guy.”
For his part, Williams has taken Morton’s comments with maturity and patience. “He came to me and told me how he felt,” Williams said. “It’s a long season. I know my time will come.”
The Lions coaching staff used the bye week to re-evaluate play-calling tendencies and explore new ways to deploy Williams — potentially through more motion, slot alignments, and quick-hitting routes that allow him to touch the ball more often.
Detroit sits atop the NFC North with a 5-2 record, and Morton knows maximizing Williams’ impact could be the key to sustaining that success. “He’s one of our most explosive players,” Morton added. “If I can get him rolling, it makes everyone else’s job easier.”
As the Lions prepare to face the Minnesota Vikings this weekend, all eyes will be on how Morton follows through on his self-critique — and whether Jameson Williams’ role finally expands to match his elite potential.
