Jameson Williams missed the first half of his rookie season while rehabbing from a knee injury, and the Detroit Lions’ wide receiver is set to miss a large chunk of his second season as well after he was suspended six games Friday for violating the NFL’s policy on gambling.
Williams is one of four Lions players disciplined after a league investigation that spread to one other team, the Washington Commanders.
The NFL suspended receiver Quintez Cephus and safety C.J. Moore indefinitely Friday for gambling on football games, and benched Williams and receiver Stanley Berryhill six games each for mobile betting on non-NFL games done from a team facility.
Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney is also suspended indefinitely.
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League policy prohibits players from gambling on NFL games, the draft or other activities, and from taking part in any form of gambling while at a league or team facility or while traveling with the team.
The Lions released Cephus and Moore on Friday. Both players are eligible to apply for reinstatement after one year. The team previously fired four lower-level staff members in March for violating the league’s gambling policy for employees.
“As a result of an NFL investigation, it came to our attention that a few of our players had violated the league’s gambling policy,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes said in a statement released by the team. “These players exhibited decision making that is not consistent with our organizational values and violates league rules. We have made the decision to part ways with Quintez and C.J. immediately. We are disappointed by the decision making demonstrated by Stanley and Jameson and will work with both players to ensure they understand the severity of these violations and have clarity on the league rules moving forward.”
Lions great Alex Karras was suspended for gambling 60 years ago
Williams, a first-round pick out of Alabama last spring, is the highest-profile player caught in the NFL’s latest gambling probe.
In March of last year, then-Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley was suspended indefinitely for betting on NFL games. He later admitted to placing parlay bets that included wagers on the Falcons to win. ESPN reported at the time the league became aware of Ridley’s actions through its relationships with the legal sports betting industry.
Ridley was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars last fall and reinstated this spring
Williams and Berryhill are eligible to take part in the Lions’ formal offseason program, training camp this summer and play in preseason games, but will miss the first six games of the regular season. They can resume workouts at the team facility after serving the first half of their suspensions, but can not take part in practices.
