Burning Questions, Part II: Can Detroit Lions' offense remain among league's best?

The Detroit Lions' offense has been among the NFL’s best the past two years, finishing top-five in scoring and yardage each season under coordinator Ben Johnson’s command.

This offseason's alterations to the starting lineup have been minimal. The team swapped Jonah Jackson for Pro Bowler Kevin Zeitler at guard, and reliable receiver Josh Reynolds took a bigger contract offer from Denver in free agency. So staying near the top of the charts shouldn’t be too difficult. Right?

Here are the questions the Lions can answer to ensure that happens.

Will Williams turn the corner in third season?

Through two seasons, the Lions have not gotten anywhere close to a return on investment with wide receiver Jameson Williams. Much of that was expected, but it’s now time for him to start fulfilling his potential.

Williams’ rookie season was essentially a redshirt year, focusing more on rehabbing back to full strength following an ACL tear in January. He did see action in six games, but was limited to 78 snaps, producing a meager 81 yards from scrimmage after catching only one of his nine targets.

Things were supposed to accelerate last year, but the train derailed before it left the station due to a suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy. He returned to appear in 12 contests, but battled youthful inconsistency and shaky hands, churning out just 24 catches for 354 yards.

Still, there were promising signs down the stretch, carrying into the postseason. That momentum has swelled this offseason with Williams more prominently featured following Reynolds’ departure. The hands look better, the deep-ball tracking has improved, and the route running is a little more crisp. There are still going to be ups and downs, with wider oscillations between good and bad days than most, but if Williams can be a legitimate No. 2 to Amon-Ra St. Brown, it will go a long way toward keeping Detroit’s offense humming.