The NFL reportedly is investigating a fifth Detroit Lions player for violating the league’s gambling policy, according to The Athletic’s Kalyn Kahler.
The Lions have already seen Jameson Williams, Quintez Cephus, Stanley Berryhill and C.J. Moore get hit with punishments for violating the policy. Moore and Cephus were released by the Lions after they were suspended for at least one year.
Williams, a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, was suspended for six games. Berryhill was also hit with a six-game suspension.
“The NFL is investigating a fifth player on the 2022 Detroit Lions roster for a potential violation of the league’s gambling policy, league sources told The Athletic,” Kahler wrote.
“The Athletic is not naming the player at this time because the investigation is ongoing. The player currently under investigation was not a prominent member of the 2022 team. He has yet to be interviewed by the league’s investigator. The player’s agent declined to comment when reached by The Athletic, as did spokespersons for the NFL, NFLPA and the Lions.”
The NFL recently was reported to be investigating a second wave of potential gambling violations, and it appears that Detroit has been hit once again.
With the league having sportsbook sponsors and many states in the United States legalizing gambling on sports, the NFL has seen some serious issues with players violating the league’s policy.
Star receiver Calvin Ridley missed the entire 2022 season due to a suspension.
It now appears that the Lions have added to their lengthy list of players who have violated the policy. It’s a bad sign for Detroit, who really can’t afford to lose any impact players, although it seems that this unnamed player was not important during the 2022 season.
The Lions had one of their better seasons in recent memory in the 2022 campaign, going 9-8 and finishing in second in the NFC North. It was the first time the team went over .500 since the 2017 season.
Detroit has a lot of young talent and upside, but losing Williams for six games certainly hurts. Even though he made just one catch as a rookie after missing most of last season with a knee injury he suffered in college, Williams was expected to be an impact player alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown in the Lions’ passing game this season.
The team will be forced to wait six games before it can see the duo in action in the regular season in 2023.
The Lions and their fans are hoping that these gambling violations won’t hurt the team’s chances of making the playoffs in the 2023 campaign.
