Ironically, running back Javonte Williams\u2019 first game back is against the same team he was playing when suffered a devastating injury. Or maybe it\u2019s fate.<\/p>\n
The Broncos\u2019 season opener against the Raiders on Sunday afternoon will mark the first time Williams has played in a regular-season game in almost a year. His last memory of meaningful football was getting carted off the field in Las Vegas after tearing his ACL in the third quarter last October.<\/p>\n
The months after featured a remarkable recovery process, which led to Williams being on the practice field at the start of OTAs, participating in training camp and playing in Denver\u2019s preseason matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Williams might be on a pitch count against the Raiders, but the moment he steps on the grass at Empower Field at Mile High will be a reward for his journey back from a devastating injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I got here for OTAs, he was already dang near ready to go,\u201d running back Samaje Perine said. \u201cThat just speaks volumes about the work he put in this offseason to be that far along in OTAs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Williams has impatiently waited for this moment all summer. Now that Week 1 is here, he’s excited and said he feels like the player who rushed for 903 yards as a rookie.<\/p>\n
Broncos coach Sean Payton said Williams is \u201chealthy and strong.\u201d He expects the third-year running back to play a big role Sunday, though he didn\u2019t specify the number of snaps.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know how many plays I\u2019m going to get, but I’m gonna make it count,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n
Right guard Quinn Meinerz, who was part of the same 2021 draft class as Williams, is ready to share the field with his teammate. He thought the team did a good job at easing Williams back into the offense.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s impressive any time someone goes through such an intense injury like an ACL because the fight is so long,\u201d Meinerz said. \u201cYou\u2019re on a grind for eight months trying to get back to what you were doing before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Payton wants to set the tone with the run game. The return of Williams along with Perine and rookie Jaleel McLaughlin will allow Denver\u2019s first-year coach to do so. Williams has been getting comfortable with the playbook and being used as a receiver out of the backfield \u2014 a requirement for running backs in Payton’s offense.<\/p>\n
Williams caught 43 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns in 2021. In the loss to the 49ers last month, he was targeted three times on the opening drive.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s safe to assume he will get a handful of pass-catching opportunities against the Raiders.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s an extremely hard worker, and it\u2019s great to see him back. \u2026I think he\u2019s going to be ready to roll on Sunday,\u201d Perine said.<\/p>\n