On Friday, the NFL announced the suspensions of four Detroit Lions players, including former first-round WR Jameson Williams, for violating the league’s gambling policy. Williams will miss the first six games of the 2023 season, depleting the Lions of a dynamic offensive weapon.

While the news comes as a complete surprise, the Lions still have their eyes set on winning the NFC North for the first time ever. The “next man up” mentality will be significant in getting through the suspension. Their main core now consists of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Marvin Jones Jr., Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond, and Brock Wright.

Should the Jameson Williams suspension have you thinking twice about the Detroit Lions as NFC North favorites?

No. Williams did not make much of an impact last season, and they turned out just fine. It is certainly disappointing, as many expected Williams to take a massive leap in year two. The Lions have plenty of ways to fill the void left by Williams, whether through a trade, the draft, or free agency.

The offense was one of the best in the league last season, including the first three quarters of the season without Williams. With Ben Johnson in year two as offensive coordinator, the Lions will get through it.

On the other side of the ball, the Detroit Lions defense got a lot better this offseason with the notable signings of CB Cam Sutton, DB C. J. Gardner-Johnson, and CB Emmanuel Moseley. The Lions also have picks No. 6 and No. 18 in the 2023 Draft to continue to build the defense. These additions alone are a net positive for the Lions, and they should still intimidate the rest of the division.

If you look around the rest of the division, there are not any real threats. The Lions have shown that they can beat any one of the Bears, Packers, and Vikings. The Jamo news is not ideal, but it would not be the first time this Lions team has had to battle back from adversity.

Keep drinking the Kool-Aid. This is just a bump in the road on a journey to glory.