Williams’ season over after torn ACL
Broncos running back was injured in third quarter on Sunday
Denver not only lost a divisional game Sunday afternoon to Las Vegas, it lost one of its best offensive players for the season as well.
Running back Javonte Williams tore the ACL in his right knee, suffered other damage as well and will miss the rest of the season, a source confirmed to The Denver Post Monday morning. He had an MRI Monday after returning to Denver with the team.
“Losing Javonte is unfortunate. He’s such a dynamic player in this league,” Denver head coach Nathaniel Hackett told reporters
Monday afternoon.
Williams sustained the right knee injury on the first play of the third quarter Sunday. He took a handoff to the left but was tackled behind the line of scrimmage and didn’t get up for an extended period.
He put almost no weight on that leg as he was helped off the field and was carted to the locker room a short time later.
On the season, the 22-year-old, second-year back out of North Carolina finished with 47 carries for 202 yards to go along with 16 catches for 76 yards.
In his rookie season, Williams rushed for 903 yards and four touchdowns and added 43 catches for 316 and three more scores.
The Broncos thought they had depth at the position after signing veteran Melvin Gordon to a one-year contract during the offseason, but he has fumbled four times in as many games this season. Like Williams, he lost a fumble on the goal line against Seattle. Sunday in Las Vegas, Gordon did not play until late in the second quarter. When he did enter the game, he lost a fumble on his first carry that was returned for a touchdown.
In all, Gordon played 10 snaps against the Raiders and Mike Boone played 19. Boone carried three times for 20 yards but also
had two drops, including one that would have been an explosive play in the middle of the field in the waning minutes while Denver was trying to mount a comeback.
“We’re going to have to disperse (the workload) between the guys that we have out there,” Hackett said. “Whoever’s out there is going to have to do the best job they can. We have some good backs and we want to be sure we showcase them, just like we were with (Williams). If they’re part of that progression and they get that opportunity, we want them to be great.”
Gordon has been a productive runner for years in the NFL, but his fumble rate has been far too high this year and dating to late 2021.
Hackett reiterated Monday that the veteran is going to get more opportunities.
“Melvin is a true pro. This is a guy that’s been doing this for a long time and he’s harder on himself than anybody,” Hackett said. “He’s part of our team. We love the guy. He knows there was a mishap right there and this is a great opportunity for him to get back on the field and prove himself.”
The most logical addition to the mix going forward is practice squad running back Devine Ozigbo. Signed before the team’s preseason finale, Ozigbo has played in 21 career games between Jacksonville and New Orleans and has 11 carries for 25 yards to go along with 13 catches for 72 yards.
Denver will also surely scan the waiver wire and scour other teams’ practice squads for potential additions.
The Broncos could explore the trade market, though general manager George Paton is hoping to add draft capital between now and the spring rather than spend it considering Denver has only five picks for the 2023 draft currently.
“From the standpoint of bringing in a running back, any time you bring somebody in, it’s always hard to kind of get them caught up with everything,” Hackett said. “We have a nice little learning platform for guys because this is what happens in the league. No matter what happens, you’re going to have some injuries.
“Guys are going to come in and they have to help you right away.”