Lions’ Dan Campbell Addresses $83 Million Decision Amid NFL Season
The Detroit Lions finalized a three-year contract extension with wide receiver Jameson Williams on Saturday night ahead of the team's Week 1 loss to the Green Bay Packers, securing the former first-round pick through the 2029 NFL season.
Williams’ extension follows a career-best 2024 season in which he posted 58 receptions for 1,001 yards and seven receiving touchdowns, plus 11 carries for 61 yards and one rushing score. His 17.3 yards per catch ranked fourth in the NFL among receivers who appeared in at least seven games.
The deal, worth up to $83 million, places Williams 13th in Annual Average Value (AAV) among all wide receivers, earning $27.67 million annually.
Coach Dan Campbell addressed the extension Wednesday, saying, "It’s good. As much as you can get that business side of it out of the way, it’s good. We were hoping it would have been done sooner than that, but it doesn’t always work that way. Glad to get it done, Jamo’s come a long way and we expect a lot more out of him too."
Detroit opened it's season on Sunday with a 27–13 loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field. Jared Goff completed 31-of-39 passes for 225 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while Williams finished with four catches for 23 yards on five targets and rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa provided the lone touchdown on a leaping grab with 55 seconds remaining.
The Lions’ offensive line, missing retired center Frank Ragnow and reshuffled at guard, allowed four sacks and nine QB hits. Detroit’s run game was ineffective as well, producing just 46 yards on 22 carries (2.1 YPC), with David Montgomery leading the way with 11 carries for 25 yards, while Jahmyr Gibbs added 19 yards on nine attempts.
Detroit hosts the Chicago Bears on Sunday in a divisional matchup at Ford Field. Chicago enters with second-year quarterback Caleb Williams under center and former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson now leading the Bears.
The Lions (-250) are favored by 5.5 points with a 47.5 over/under, per ESPN BET. Many are expecting the team to rebound offensively after a sluggish opener, with ESPN's matchup predictor giving Detroit a 61.2% chance of success.
Detroit swept Chicago last season and has gone 5-1 against the Bears since 2022, per Pro Football Reference.
Browns’ Rookie RB Quinshon Judkins Dismisses Return to College Football
Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins remains unsigned with the regular season right around the corner.
It’s a tough situation for the Browns, who drafted Judkins to be their feature back. However, the former Ohio State standout is not considering the extreme option of returning to college football, which was recently proposed by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
“If the player never signs an NFL contract (and Judkins has not), why shouldn’t he be able to return to college? The NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement contemplates the possibility of a player returning to school after the draft. While not binding on the NCAA, it shows that it shouldn’t be viewed as an impossibility,” Florio said on Aug. 25. “If Judkins would play in college football this year, the Browns would still hold his contractual rights. If he doesn’t sign with the Browns at all, he would re-enter the draft in 2026.”
Florio’s theory stirred some buzz, but Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reported that Judkins “is not pondering a return to the college ranks.”
The Browns selected Judkins with the No. 36 overall pick in April. Like many second-rounders, he has been pushing for a fully guaranteed deal. Complicating matters was his arrest in Florida on domestic violence and battery charges.
Those charges have since been dropped, but the NFL continues to investigate. Judkins could face a suspension or be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list once he signs.
Browns Sign New Running Back Amid Judkins Uncertainty
The Browns’ initial 53-man roster featured just two running backs: veteran Jerome Ford and rookie fourth-round pick Dylan Sampson. That didn’t last long. Cleveland claimed Raheim Sanders on Wednesday. Sanders was waived by the Chargers during roster cuts.
“Productive player, good size, runs hard,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said of Sanders. “We’ve got to get him in here and see how he does. The tape is good.”
Browns assistant general manager Glenn Cook said the signing of Sanders — an undrafted rookie out of South Carolina — does not have to do with Judkins’ situation.
“What it more speaks to is in August, you may feel like you’re deep in a certain spot, and when you get to January, there’s a scarcity,” Cook said. “We’re just excited to get the talent, give him to the coaching staff and let them deploy him the best way they see fit.”
The Browns also brought back Ahmani Marshall and Trayveon Williams to the practice squad. Marshall and Williams were both with the Browns in the preseason.
Browns Also Sign QB Bailey Zappe to Practice Squad
Another notable addition for the Browns this week is quarterback Bailey Zappe. He previously spent time in Cleveland, starting the 2024 season finale.
Zappe is the fourth healthy quarterback in the mix for the Browns. Joe Flacco will open as the starter, with Dillon Gabriel as his primary backup. Shedeur Sanders is No. 3 on the depth chart, so it’s uncertain where Zappe will slot in.
Zappe spent the preseason with the Kansas City Chiefs, completing 15 of 27 passes for 104 yards with two interceptions in three games.
The Browns recently released veteran Tyler Huntley and traded Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders.
