Detroit Lions optimistic about Jameson Williams, Jake Bates and Terrion Arnold

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is among those expecting a standout season from wide receiver Jameson Williams this fall.

Williams finished sixth on the Lions last season with 24 catches for 354 yards, but is expected to play as the No. 2 receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown this year.

Johnson said Thursday his confidence in Williams is “at an all-time high and continuing to rise,” joining the chorus of coaches who said they have seen Williams make great strides on and off the field in his third NFL season.

Bold words:Aaron Glenn expects the Lions to have “a damn good defense” with Aidan Hutchinson as the star

“As a player, as a route runner, as a receiver and then off the field, just his preparation, how he takes care of his body, how he acts around his teammates and his interactions with them,” Johnson said. “He's come a very long way and he's just going to continue to grow. The more reps he gets, the more mistakes he's going to make and learn from them. And that's the best and most encouraging thing we've seen: Since he's been on the field, he rarely makes the same mistake twice.”

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Johnson and fellow Lions Aaron Glenn and Dave Fipp held their weekly media sessions on Thursday. Here are more highlights.

Role reversal

Glenn also had good things to say about Williams and the efforts the young receiver is making to prepare his new defensive backs for the season.

“Listen, in this business, iron sharpens iron, so the guys we have at cornerbacks against Jamo, I think they made both guys better,” Glenn said. “I expect Jamo to do what Jamo does, which is run by people and make plays in the back of the field. So, listen, I'm a huge fan of that player. He and I have a really good relationship, and I try to push him as much as I push anyone else because he has the talent to do it. So I'm excited to see him play all season long.”

Johnson similarly praised rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold, calling him “affectionate.”

“He's tough as nails, so he gave us some problems one-on-one in training camp, and we tried to bully him a little bit, but that wasn't particularly successful,” Johnson said. “So I'm encouraged to see where he's at. He definitely lets you know he's out there, in more ways than one. That's good.”

Patience pays off

NFL teams have long played it safe at the kicker position. It's easier to keep a trusted veteran than to promote an inexperienced rookie, even if the young player has significantly more potential.

The Cincinnati Bengals did that in 2017 when they selected Randy Bullock over fifth-round pick Jake Elliott as their kicker, and Fipp was with the Philadelphia Eagles when that team signed Elliott from the Bengals' practice squad earlier that year. Elliott made his first Pro Bowl a few years later and was named to the All-Pro second team last year.

More:Detroit Lions season preview: Team lineup, what to expect from the rookies on defense

Fipp reiterated that he and the Lions plan to be patient with young kicker Jake Bates this fall. He stressed that Bates will have to “do his part” to keep the job, but said Bates has a unique talent on the legs and the Lions are ready to weather some ups and downs.

“I'm really excited about him,” Fipp said. “He's one of the most talented players I know at that position. I think all the guys on the other teams watch him warm up and think, 'Oh my God, this guy is unbelievable.' So he's got a lot of potential. When you invest in a player and take a chance, you definitely want to do it with a guy who can turn out to be a really good player for you. I think we're going to have to be patient with him.”

Branch jumps around

Brian Branch could start at safety for the Lions this fall after playing primarily as a slot cornerback last year, but that doesn't mean he'll be anchored solely at the safety position.

“That's not to say he's not going to play nickel, I want to get that out of everybody's head right now,” Glenn said. “He's going to play safety, he's going to play nickel, he's going to play dime, so he's going to be everywhere and the reason we're doing that is because he's a heck of a player, so we're going to put him in a position where he can make plays.”

Branch was one of the Lions' most productive defenders last season, with 74 tackles, three interceptions and a sack. He showed strong instincts as a rookie and Glenn said he has become even more vocal in his new role.

“You're talking about a man who has improved his communication skills and his leadership skills in terms of influencing people,” Glenn said. “He has done that and in my opinion to a great extent.”

Offensive ingenuity

The Lions' newly formed secondary will have its first major test on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams' passing game led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has two productive receivers in Puka Nacua (105 catches, 1,486 yards, 6 TDs in 2023) and Cooper Kupp (59-737-5).

Glenn called the Nacua-Kupp duo “damn good” and said their effectiveness is amplified by the rest of the Rams' offense.

“I think their running back is a heck of a player,” Glenn said of Kyren Williams. “Obviously, we know the guy that got drafted out of Michigan (Blake Corum) is going to be a good player, but the way they challenge you with all the pre-snap moves and then come to a simple play, I think he's the epitome of, 'Man, listen, make everything look complicated, but we're just making simple plays.' And I think that's great for an offense, and (Rams coach Sean McVay) does that. So we've got to be good at 'not being blinded by all the eye candy, but understanding exactly who they are and how they make their plays, and making those plays.'”

Detroit Lions optimistic about Jameson Williams, Jake Bates and Terrion Arnold

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