Jameson Williams wants Alabama number back in NFL
Wide receiver Jameson Williams caught 79 passes for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns for Alabama in 2021 while wearing No. 1 on his jersey.
But when he got to the Detroit Lions as the 12th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, cornerback Jeff Okudah already had that number – his third in three seasons with Detroit.
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On Tuesday, the Lions traded Okudah to the Atlanta Falcons, and it wasn’t long after the news broke that Williams put in his claim on the No. 1 jersey.
“I need that uno back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLZ,” Williams tweeted, quickly adding: “I’m sorry for everybody who got that jersey but I need that uno, man,” and then, “We can box frl whoever want it.”
Williams wore No. 9 during his rookie season, debuting in the number on Dec. 4.
Williams got off to such a late start because he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Alabama’s 33-18 loss to Georgia in the CFP national championship game on Jan. 10, 2022.
Williams was limited to 78 offensive snaps in six games and had only two touches – a 41-yard touchdown reception in a 34-23 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 11 and a 40-yard run in a 41-10 victory over the Chicago Bears on Jan. 8.
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The Lions traded Okudah to Atlanta for a fifth-round choice in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Okudah joined Detroit as the third player picked in the 2020 NFL Draft. During his three seasons, Okudah played in 25 games and missed 25 games with injuries, although he started 15 of the Lions’ 17 games in 2022.
The trade passes the decision on the fifth-year option of Okudah’s rookie contract from Detroit to Atlanta. The cornerback’s four-year contract has one season remaining plus a team option for another season. The Falcons have until May 1 to decide if they want to keep Okudah under contract for the 2024 season. If Atlanta decides to use the option, it will guarantee Okudah a salary of $11.514 million for the 2024 campaign.
Okudah has a base salary of $1.01 million for the 2023 season, but he is due a $4.172 million roster bonus on the third day of training camp.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.