A little over a year after suffering a devastating knee injury Javonte Williams showcased exceptional skills, reminding everyone the Denver Broncos running back he was. In Sunday's triumph against the Green Bay Packers, Williams delivered his performance of the season.
Head coach Sean Payton expressed his belief that Williams will only continue to improve as the 2023 campaign progresses. Reflecting on his initial impressions of Williams, Payton admitted that he was somewhat of an enigma due to not having worked with him before. However, as the games unfolded, Payton started to appreciate the kind of runner Williams truly is.
Payton emphasized, "I wasn’t here—he was a little bit of an enigma for me," Payton said Monday. "I don’t mean this in a negative way but having not worked with him or [RB Samaje] Perine or some of these guys. Until you get into the games, you’re not sure what kind of runner. You know they’re good runners, but you don’t know what kind of runners they’re going to be. I think Javonte heading into the preseason and the regular season—we limited the reps he had, and then he finally played some in San Francisco—a little bit more. It’s only in the last three weeks, four weeks, where I’m really getting a good feeling and a good handle on his strengths. I think you’re going to continue to see that trend of him just getting better and better."
In his second game back from a hip injury, Williams stood out among the crowded backfield, punishing the Packers' defenders. He recorded an impressive team-high of 82 rushing yards on 15 carries, boasting an average of 5.5 yards per attempt. Additionally, he contributed three catches for 14 yards in the Broncos' hard-fought 19-17 victory—Denver's first home win of the season.
The Broncos' running game received a boost from Jaleel McLaughlin and Samaje Perine, who combined for 86 yards on the ground. Despite losing the time-of-possession battle, Denver outgained Green Bay with a total of 339 yards compared to the Packers' 331.
Payton commended his team's ability to establish the running game, stating, “We felt like we were going to be able to [run the ball]," Payton said in his post-game press conference. "We thought that was going to be important. It’s a really good front, rushing the passer—we just did not want to get in that game. I was pleased that—I thought the runners did a good job with it, and I thought when we look at the tape, we were in base—when I say their ‘base defense’ we wanted. We had a few nickel runs, but I thought that was important relative to what we were doing on third down.”
While McLaughlin and Perine will continue to compete for playing time, it's evident that Williams, affectionately known as "Pookie," has made a triumphant return—perhaps even better than before. As the Broncos strive for success this season, all eyes will be on Williams as he continues to showcase his immense talent.
