LOCALS IN THE NFL

Lions RB Jamaal Williams Finds Paydirt On Thanksgiving Day

Nov 24, 2022, 1:50 PM

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Jamaal Williams #30 of the Detroit Lions rushes for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter at Ford Field on November 24, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

SALT LAKE CITY – Former BYU Cougars and current Detroit Lions running back Jamaal Williams found paydirt with a touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills on Thanksgiving Day.

The Lions hosted the Bills at Ford Field for the first game of Week 12 on Thursday, November 24.

With 6:44 remaining in the opening quarter, Williams burst through a hole for two yards, six points, and the first score on Thanksgiving Day 2022.

Williams’ run helped the Lions start the contest with a 7-0 lead.

The rush capped a 12-play, 61-yard drive that took 6:17.

It was the former BYU standout’s 13th rushing touchdown of the year, which leads the league. Williams entered the game with 159 carries for 668 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns through the first 11 weeks.

Buffalo went on to kick a game-winning field goal with two seconds left in the game to capture a 28-25 win over Detroit.

Williams finished the game with 18 carries for 66 yards and a touchdown.

With the loss, the Lions fell to a 4-7 record, including 2-4 at home.

Detroit’s next game is at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, December 4 at 11 a.m. (MDT) on FOX.

About Jamaal Williams

Before his time in the NFL, Williams was a star at BYU. He finished his time in Provo as the Cougars’ all-time leading rusher in both career and single-yard yards.

During his time at BYU (2012-14, 2016), Williams ran the ball 726 times for 3,901 yards and 35 touchdowns. He also had 60 receptions for 567 yards and a touchdown. Williams only lost two fumbles during his college career.

Following his time at BYU, the Southern California native was selected by the Green Bay Packers during the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He played the first four seasons of his professional career with the Packers before signing with the Lions in 2021.

Prior to Week 12, Williams had career totals of 812 rushes for 3,254 yards and 25 touchdowns on the ground. He also had 157 receptions for 1,175 yards and eight touchdowns out of the backfield.

Kyle Ireland is a Locals in the NFL Insider for sports.ksl.com and co-host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).

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Lions RB Jamaal Williams Finds Paydirt On Thanksgiving Day