Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams served a four-game suspension last year for violating the NFL’s gambling policy. The former Alabama All-American is serving a two-game suspension for violating the league’s Policy on Performance-Enhancing Substances. Could the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy be next?
The Wayne County (Michigan) Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing a request for a warrant to arrest Williams on a charge of carrying a concealed weapon in a motor vehicle, ESPN reported on Tuesday.
The request comes during an internal review by the Detroit Police Department of a traffic stop involving Williams three weeks ago, WXYZ-TV in Detroit reported on Tuesday, during which Williams was handcuffed and placed in a police car.
Ultimately, after assistance arrived for the patrol officers and several phone calls were made, Williams was released.
“I feel that there was probable cause to arrest, and he was under arrest by the patrol officer,” Detroit Police Commander Michael McGinnis told WXYZ. “And because of that, he should have been conveyed to the Detroit Detention Center and processed.”
On the police body-cam video, Williams can be heard telling the policemen that he plays for the Lions and that “this cannot be on my name.”
“I want to know if the fact that this individual was a Detroit Lions player, did that play a factor in the decision making?” McGinnis said.
Police reported they stopped a car driven by Williams’ brother for speeding. The driver disclosed there were two guns in the car – one on the back seat and one under the front-passenger seat, where Williams was sitting.
The gun on the back seat was registered to Williams’ brother, who had a concealed-pistol license for it. The other gun was registered to Williams, who did not have a concealed-pistol license.
“I got the gun for protection,” Williams told police. “Do you guys know where I live at? Detroit!”
But for not having a CPL, Williams was taken into custody.
“On Oct. 8, my clients were pulled over for an alleged traffic violation,” said Todd Flood, Williams’ attorney, in a statement released to WXYZ. “During the course of the stop, my clients were both cooperative and respectful with the police officers. With the two pistols that were found in the vehicle, they were both properly registered and the driver in the vehicle had the proper credentials to carry them. We have cooperated with law enforcement and will continue to do so.”
A 2021 first-round draft choice, Williams has 17 receptions for 361 yards with three touchdowns and four rushing attempts for 32 yards as Detroit has compiled a 6-1 record in the 2024 season.
The NFL suspended Williams on Thursday for violating the league’s Policy on Perform-Enhancing Substances, and he did not play in the Lions’ 52-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. He’ll also have to miss Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers before coming off suspension on Monday.
Williams was suspended last season for violating the NFL’s gambling policy by betting on non-league games while at a team facility, and he missed the first four games of the 2023 campaign.
The Lions released a statement on Tuesday about Williams’ near arrest: “Jameson made us aware immediately that he was a passenger in a routine traffic stop on Oct. 8. We discussed the incident with him and have kept the league informed of what we know. We understand he was released without incident or citation. It is now our understanding that the Detroit Police Department is revisiting the matter. Jameson has hired an attorney, and we will not be commenting further out of respect for the legal process.”