Since being selected as a first-round draft pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2022 NFL Draft, Jameson Williams has showcased his skills as a talented wide receiver.

However, Williams has struggled to maintain a consistent presence on the field due to various issues, not solely connected to injuries.

During most of his rookie season in 2022, he was sidelined due to recovering from a torn ACL suffered while at Alabama. In the two seasons following that, although the 23-year-old has generally been healthy, he has faced suspensions that kept him off the field.

Since the beginning of the 2023 NFL season, Williams has received a total of six-game suspensions. Compounding his troubles, he is now under investigation for a charge related to carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle.

Here’s a rundown of Williams’ suspension history and other off-field issues throughout his NFL career so far.

Suspension Due to Gambling

Williams entered the spotlight for the wrong reasons when he was one of five players—four of whom were Lions—suspended for breaching the league’s gambling regulations.

On April 21, 2023, he received a six-game suspension for placing bets on college sports from within the Detroit Lions’ practice facility. Although NFL personnel are allowed to wager on events outside the league, betting inside any club or league facility is strictly forbidden according to the NFL’s gambling policy.

The NFL confirmed that “there was no evidence suggesting any inside information was exploited or that there was any game corruption” linked to the actions of Williams and the other suspended players.

Williams eventually had his suspension reduced from six games to four, causing him to miss the beginning of the 2023 season. After returning in Week 5, he played the next 12 consecutive games before being inactive for the Lions’ Week 18 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.

Gun Incident Involving Jameson Williams

On October 29, 2024—just a few days after his PES policy suspension—Williams became involved in a police investigation, according to WXYZ Channel 7’s report.

The investigation centers around why Williams was not arrested when he was discovered with a concealed weapon during a traffic stop.

Williams was a passenger in a vehicle driven by his brother when they were pulled over for speeding shortly after midnight on October 8, 2024. During this stop, his brother informed the responding officer about two firearms in the car—one registered to him and the other registered to Williams.

Unlike his brother, however, Williams did not possess a concealed pistol license (CPL) for his firearm. The police then indicated to Williams that he would be taken into custody for carrying a concealed weapon.

Body camera footage revealed that Williams told the officers, “I play for the Detroit …

Officers apprehended him while he protested, “Lions, bro,” and secured him in a patrol vehicle until a supervisor arrived at the location.

Ultimately, Williams was set free without being formally arrested, and his firearm was returned. This decision came after the supervising sergeant recognized Williams and made calls to higher-ups.

“You’re a (expletive) hero. Thank you so much,” the sergeant can be heard saying in footage received by Channel 7.

No police report was initially created regarding the incident. However, during an investigation by the Detroit Police Department, they requested a warrant from the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office concerning Williams. There is now potential for him to be charged with carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, according to WXYZ.

The Lions shared a statement with Channel 7, affirming their awareness of Williams’ traffic stop and that they were communicating with the NFL about the situation.

“Jameson informed us right away that he was a passenger during a standard traffic stop on October 8th. We have spoken about the event with him and have kept the league updated on our findings,” the Lions expressed. “We understand he was released without issue or ticket. We also recognize that the Detroit Police Department is looking into the situation again. Jameson has engaged an attorney, and we will refrain from further comments to honor the legal process.”

The NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy states that players may face penalties for “illegal possession of a gun or other weapon.” Williams’ firearm was legally registered, as stated by his lawyer, but not having a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) may lead to problems for him with the league.

Typically, the NFL waits for legal proceedings to finish before imposing any penalties on its players. Consequently, it appears that Williams is unlikely to receive a suspension related to this incident during the 2024 NFL season.