Williams (knee) is making progress in his recovery from a torn ACL, but head coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday that the Lions won't designate the rookie to return from the reserve/NFI list until after their Week 6 bye, Jeff Risdon of USA Today reports.
While Williams technically could come off the NFI list and play as soon as Week 5, the Lions never had much expectation for the first-round pick to contribute before the bye. Early feedback from the returns of Chris Godwin and Michael Gallup provides hope Williams can earn a role by midseason, as the two veteran wideouts -- both of whom played Week 4 -- suffered ACL tears not long before Williams fell to the same injury in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in January. Once he's ready, Williams will challenge for the perimeter snaps that have mostly gone to DJ Chark and Josh Reynolds so far.