The Detroit Lions have two first-round selections in the 2023 NFL Draft. The No. 18 choice and the No. 6 pick, which the Lions obtained almost two years ago when they traded quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams.

But when Detroit starts preparing for the 2023 season, it might seem as though the Lions have added three first-round picks. That’s because wide receiver Jameson Williams, the 12th selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, played only 78 offensive snaps during his rookie season.

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“We’re expecting big things,” Detroit general manager Brad Holmes said about Williams’ 2023 outlook while speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I guess that’s a good way to put it: It’s kind of like a brand new first-round pick.

“You know the goal when we originally drafted him, we didn’t know really how much we were going to get out of him, but it was good to have him get some kind of game experience to kind of feel the speed of the game.”

Williams played so sparingly because he sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his final college game – the CFP championship contest for the 2021 season.

The didn’t dissuade the Lions from drafting the former Alabama All-American. Instead, Detroit traded the 32nd, 34th and 66th selections in the 2022 NFL Draft to the Minnesota Vikings so it could use the 12th choice on Williams on April 28.

Williams wasn’t able to practice with his new teammates until Nov. 21. The Lions activated him on Dec. 3, and he made his NFL debut the next day, 47 weeks after his knee injury.

While Holmes liked that Williams was able to “feel the speed of the game,” the NFL got to feel Williams’ speed, too. Williams gained 81 yards on his two touchs in 2022.

On Dec. 11, Williams started the Lions’ scoring in a 34-23 victory over the Minnesota Vikings with a 41-yard reception. On Jan. 1, Williams went 40 yards on an end-around in Detroit’s 41-10 victory over the Chicago Bears.

“We’re just going to continue to do everything that we need to do to make sure that he’s set up to succeed,” Holmes said. “Jameson also has to hold his part and make sure that he’s doing everything that he needs to do. It’s always an accountability factor on both sides, but we expect big things from him.

“He’s got rare talent, rare ability. He’s got a serious passion for the game. We expect big things from him, but obviously we got to do both our parts to make sure he’s set up to succeed.”

Williams caught 79 passes for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns and averaged 35.2 yards and scored two touchdowns on 10 kickoff returns during his only season for Alabama in 2021.

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