As Calvin Johnson has begun to reconcile his past differences with the Detroit Lions organization, the Pro Football Hall of Famer was in attendance for two of the team’s mandatory minicamps practices this past week.
Johnson, who is one of the greatest players to wear a Detroit Lions uniform, knows a thing or two about being a wide receiver in the NFL — and a successful one at that. So, it’s only fitting that he would lend a helping hand to one of the team’s young receivers, who has a chance to be a top wideout for Detroit going forward.
During his time at mandatory minicamp, Johnson had the chance to meet with Jameson Williams, the second-year receiver out of Alabama, who the Lions selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Mentoring Williams is a distinct possibility and one that Johnson recently mentioned on 97.1 The Ticket’s Stoney and Jansen with Heather.
“I connected with Jamo [Thursday] really for the first time and I look forward to being around him and being a shoulder for him to lean on,” Johnson said. “Extremely talented kid. We saw him when he touched the field last year for the first time. I look forward to just helping him build the level of consistency and being the pro he wants to be, man. Anything I can do to help him, I’ll do that and I’ll be there.”
Earlier this offseason, Williams was hit with a six-game suspension from the NFL for violating the league’s gambling policy. But apparently, he didn’t even know about the policy he was violating. Williams played just six games during his rookie season, as he recovered from an ACL injury he suffered at Alabama. Though he was targeted nine times, Williams touched the ball just twice; and he made both count. Williams’s lone reception was a 41-yard touchdown, while his lone carry went for 40 yards.
While he’ll unfortunately have to ride the pine for the first six games, those flashes of potential are clearly there. It also helps to have a Hall of Famer like Johnson in your corner.
