A Jamaal Williams Lions reunion is most definitely back in the conversation after Williams contacted Dan Campbell about a potential return to Detroit. Still, nostalgia isn’t the strongest argument for bringing him back. Detroit’s bigger question is whether Williams could give Jahmyr Gibbs something the current backfield has struggled to provide through two games: a proven veteran capable of taking some of the workload off his shoulders. This could be great for the team and Gibbs.
This whole situation that is brewing for a Jamaal Williams Lions reunion starts with Gibbs. Do the Lions want this workload to continue for Gibbs when they have a whole season left to play?
Gibbs has already accumulated 56 touches through Detroit’s first two games, including 45 rushing attempts and 11 receptions, according to the Lions’ official player statistics. He opened the season with a career-high 29 carries against the New Orleans Saints, then added another 16 carries and six catches against the Buffalo Bills.
Detroit knew Gibbs would have a larger role after moving on from David Montgomery. The situation changed again when Isiah Pacheco landed on injured reserve with a back injury. That left Sione Vaki and Jacob Saylors behind Gibbs on Detroit’s depth chart.
Campbell indicated the Lions would use Vaki and Saylors as a committee while Pacheco is unavailable. Through two games, Detroit’s offense has still leaned heavily on Gibbs.
The issue isn’t whether Gibbs can handle a major role. He clearly can. The real question is whether Detroit needs Gibbs handling 28 touches per game in September when the Lions still have a lot of football left to play.
Williams could still help the Lions if Detroit sees him as a limited veteran complement rather than the running back fans remember from 2022. The Jamaal Williams Lions fit would be about absorbing useful carries, handling physical situations, and reducing some of Gibbs’ workload — not asking Williams to become a featured runner again.
This is where any Williams discussion needs some perspective.
Lions fans remember the player who rushed for 1,066 yards and an NFL-leading 17 touchdowns in 2022. That season made Williams one of the most popular players from the early Campbell era. Detroit wouldn’t be signing that version of Williams now.
Williams spent the next two seasons with New Orleans and rushed for 470 yards on 154 carries, an average of roughly 3.1 yards per attempt. In 2024, he finished with 164 yards and one touchdown on 48 carries, averaging 3.4 yards per attempt, according to Pro Football Reference. He also hasn’t played in an NFL game since the end of the 2024 season.
Williams told the Detroit Free Press that he has continued working out and recently reached out to Campbell about another opportunity. Campbell didn’t close the door, but made clear that Detroit doesn’t need Williams’ services right now.
That response makes sense. The Lions shouldn’t sign Williams because of what he did four years ago. They would have to believe the 31-year-old can still help them now.
That doesn’t mean Williams would need to compete with Gibbs for a significant share of the backfield. A reunion would make more sense in a much narrower role.
Detroit could use another back to absorb some early-down work, handle occasional short-yardage situations, and provide insurance while Pacheco is unavailable. Williams also contributed on special teams during his final season in New Orleans, returning 11 kickoffs for 288 yards — an average of 26.2 yards per return.
That versatility matters for a player who wouldn’t be coming back as a featured runner. The question is whether Williams would offer enough of an upgrade over Vaki and Saylors to justify changing the backfield. Detroit has invested in Vaki’s development, while Saylors also brings special-teams experience.
There is no reason for the Lions to panic after two games. Detroit has other areas where its roster construction will matter over a full season, including an offensive line built around several important changes in 2026. Gibbs has put in a lot of work already; it’s very early in the season, and this workload gives Detroit a reason to keep evaluating its running back depth.
Williams doesn’t need to become the 17-touchdown back Lions fans remember for a Jamaal Williams Lions reunion to make sense. He would need to prove he can handle the less glamorous job behind Gibbs: take useful snaps, convert tough yards, and help Detroit avoid asking its most explosive offensive player to carry an unnecessarily heavy workload.
Campbell’s response suggests the Lions aren’t there yet. If the current depth behind Gibbs eventually proves insufficient, though, Williams has already made sure Detroit knows he’s available.
Obviously, a Jamaal Williams Lions reunion shouldn’t happen just because Detroit wants to recreate the 2022 season. It should only happen if Williams can still give the Lions useful, physical snaps behind Gibbs. Detroit should build around Gibbs, especially with him already averaging 28 touches per game and Pacheco unavailable. Detroit has a legitimate reason to keep evaluating whether its current running back depth is enough for the long season ahead.
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