Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams made his first (regular season) return to the field on Sunday after missing 13 games with a knee injury last season.
Williams showed no signs of lingering problems. The running back looked healthy, and he said after the game that his knee felt stronger as the game went on.
Buy Broncos Tickets“At the beginning of the game, just getting tackled, it gave me a lot of confidence,” Williams said. “… Mentally and physically, just being able to bend my knee all the way without the brace to hinder it, just the weight that the brace added on just slowing me down, just being out there free, it felt a lot lighter.”
Williams rushed 13 times for 52 yards and was targeted six times as a receiver out of the backfield. Even in a shared backfield with Samaje Perine, Williams had just shy of 20 touch opportunities in Week 1, which is a great sign that the team feels confident about his health.
“I think Javonte made a couple of nice plays in the passing game and running game,” quarterback Russell Wilson said. “Just to think about all the things that Javonte has been through since last year. Just the feat of being able to overcome an injury like he had in terms of ACL injury and then to be able to overcome that and to be in tip-top shape the way he is — his mentality, the way he brought it all day. Everybody felt his presence today, which is a really good thing. It’s a good thing for our football team that we have him.”
Williams, 23, could see an even larger role against the Washington Commanders in Week 2 after getting his feet wet on Sunday. Expect the running back to remain a key piece of Denver’s offense going forward.
