Rookie defensive lineman Tyliek Williams is slowly but surely becoming a force teams must account for when they line up against the Detroit Lions.

Williams, whom the Lions selected 28th overall in the first round out of Ohio State in this year’s NFL draft, has already emerged as one of Detroit’s most reliable run defenders. Even in a rotational role, he has consistently earned higher run-defense grades from Pro Football Focus (PFF) than starter Alim McNeill, who recently returned from ACL surgery.

PFF currently lists Williams with an overall grade of 60.9 — the second-highest among all interior defensive linemen, trailing only Cleveland’s Mason Graham, the former Michigan standout.

Williams credits part of his early success to what he learned at Ohio State, but another key factor has be

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