Detroit Lions great Calvin Johnson will mentor rookie WR Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions Blog

DETROIT — Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson told ESPN he’s willing to work with young pass-catchers around the NFL looking for his guidance, including Detroit Lions For the rookie Jameson Williams.

Williams, whom the Lions drafted No. 12 in the 2022 draft, Williams wore No. 18 as a nod to Johnson’s No. 81 jersey. 81 jersey.

“Eventually it will [happen] but I’m looking forward to it a lot. Gold jacket, somebody I look up to a lot,” Williams said. “It’s just going to be a blessing seeing somebody like that and hopefully he can give me some of the game and how things went for him here and I can just do some of the same things basically so I’m looking forward to it if it happens.”

Johnson, 36 years old, has been far removed from football ever since his retirement after the 2015 season. He told ESPN he has no itch to play again, and wasn’t even aware training camp was starting this week.

“I’ve got chronic swelling, so that ain’t going away. So, going out there, that ain’t gonna help that,” said a smiling Johnson, who was participating in the Rocket Mortgage Classic’s AREA 313 Celebrity Scramble on Tuesday.

Johnson extended an offer to Williams to mentor privately, even though his relationship with the Lions remains fraught after he was required to repay $1.6million of his signing bonus.

“There’s a lot of things that as a young receiver and just as a young NFL player period that you’ve got to learn. You’ve got to learn your way through,” Johnson, who has yet to connect with Williams, told ESPN. “I don’t mind being that person to help guys alleviate that learning curve, especially with him being drafted highly. So, it’s a lot of high expectations on him. I know what comes with that.”

Williams is currently recovering from an ACL tear in his left leg, and is on the Non-Football Injury List.

Johnson’s advice for Williams on Tuesday was simple: Take care of your body.

Detroit has a plan to slowly bring Williams to the city, but Johnson has asked him to be serious about it.

“Based off his injury, what I tell all the guys is to strengthen all the muscles around the joint that take the most impact,” Johnson said. “Make sure everything all around your leg, obviously the muscles around your knee, for him that’s got to be strong. More important than anything is learning how to do it right and taking care of yourself. He’s so young and you don’t see a lot of young guys in the training room, pre- and post-practice.

“A lot of guys think that’s for the guys that are injured and stuff like that, but those guys are there for you to get your body ready to go. Whether it’s rubbing out a knot that you might have before practice or helping you get a good stretch in, just being able to have availability within your time schedule to make those things a priority to taking care of your body because that’s your business. Your body’s your business. As much as making plays and stuff, that’s going to come, but you having good practices and all that stuff, that’s going to come but you’ve got to be out there. You’ve got to take care of your body and make that a priority.”