Calvin Johnson ready to help Lions' Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams has the support of one of the franchise's all-time greats in Calvin Johnson.

"Extremely talented kid. We saw him when he touched the field last year for the first time. I look forward to just helping him build the level of consistency and being the pro he wants to be, man," Johnson said Friday, per 97.1 The Ticket's Will Burchfield. "Anything I can to do help him, I'll do that, and I'll be there."

Johnson, who first connected with Williams during practice Thursday, owns the Lions' all-time records for receptions (731), receiving yards (11,619), and receiving touchdowns (83).

Williams will have to wait to show off any lessons he may learn from Johnson, as the speedster is suspended for the first six games of the season for gambling on non-NFL games at team facilities.

Detroit selected Williams with the No. 12 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He missed most of his rookie season as he recovered from an ACL tear. The 22-year-old showcased his explosiveness on his two career touches - a 41-yard receiving touchdown and a 40-yard run on a reverse.

Johnson's presence at practices and willingness to take Williams under his wing are part of an effort to rebuild a relationship with the franchise. The two sides drifted apart after the Hall of Famer's early retirement in 2016 when the Lions requested repayment of a portion of his signing bonus.

"With everything, it's a process, and we're making progress," Johnson said. "So, I just look forward to continued efforts to move in the right direction."