Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams returned to practice on Sunday in a workout that coach Dan Campbell described as a “jog-through.” On Monday, the former Alabama All-American was back on the field for his first padded practice of training camp, and reports highlighted two incidents involving Williams.

Williams took a swing at Starling Thomas and swatted the helmet of the undrafted rookie during the cornerback’s celebration of a pass breakup.

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“I just look at it as football,” Williams said. “Physical play. We got over it next play. Nothing too much. …

“It’s football. We know we can’t do that in a game; it’s 15 yards. It’s just practice, though. Things get rowdied up and things happen. But we talked it out. We’re good.”

Williams also had a block to set up a long run by Jahmyr Gibbs, a rookie running back from Alabama.

“(Lions offensive coordinator) Ben (Johnson) told me something, like, in a meeting two days ago,” Williams said. “He said, ‘No block, no rock.’”

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Detroit didn’t use the 12th selection in the 2022 NFL Draft on Williams because of his blocking ability. It’s his pass-catching and explosiveness with the football in his hands that attracted the Lions. But Williams came up “with a little something in his leg” at practice on July 24 and was out of action for the rest of the week.

“It really wasn’t bad because I got a lot of mental reps,” Williams said of the time out. “I was still out here. I went through every play with (wide-receivers) coach (Antwaan Randle El), with some teammates, asking them, ‘What was this? What was that?’ making sure I was filled in on everything, so it felt like I didn’t miss nothing.”

Williams didn’t practice in training camp at all as a rookie. He sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the CFP national-championship game for the 2021 season and didn’t practice with the Lions until Nov. 21.

“I’m proud of being out here,” Williams said on Monday, “getting the chance to put my cleats on, shoulder pads, helmet, catch footballs, run, block, just play football. I’m just happy to be out here. Last year, I was standing on the sideline — shirt, no cleats, no jersey, nothing. It’s just exciting to be out here.”

Williams played 78 offensive snaps in Detroit’s final six games of the 2022 season. In the 2023 season, he will miss the first six games while serving an NFL suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy. The suspension doesn’t begin until the Monday before the Lions’ first regular-season game.

“I feel like I get work every day,” Williams said. “I’m getting the same work as the whole team. I get to practice with the team. I get to work out with the team. I get to do everything with the team, so I wouldn’t say it’s a sense of urgency.

“Me and (quarterback Jared) Goff, we been doing our thing. The whole offense, we be getting timing, running plays, doing a lot of things, so everything’s been going good. I wouldn’t say it’s a sense of urgency.”

Detroit defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson said Williams would be ready when the time came to play.

“He’s one of the best receivers in the game right now,” Gardner-Johnson said on Saturday. “You got to give him his flowers. … Working out with him every day, Jamo’s ready. Don’t worry about it.”

Williams has one reception for a 41-yard touchdown in his NFL career.

“We’re going to work to be the best,” Williams said. “One day, it’s going to come.”

Detroit will open its season against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 7. Before that, the Lions have preseason games against the New York Giants on Aug. 11, Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 19 and Carolina Panthers on Aug. 25. Williams is eligible to play in the preseason games.

“A lot of people ain’t got a chance to see me play,” Williams said. “I played six games last year. I got to miss six this year. I’m just hoping to go put a show on, with me and my team showing that we can do. …

“I just worked on my game completely, so you’re going to see a lot coming from me.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.