Broncos RB Javonte Williams felt like his old self in win over Jets

Down by two points in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets on Sunday, Javonte Williams turned back the clock.

On first-and-10 with 13:34 to go, the Broncos running back sliced through a hole for a 9-yard gain. On the next play, he went around the right side for another 9 yards. Then he delivered a run reminiscent of his rookie season back in 2021, bursting up the middle on second-and-9 for 16 yards down to New York’s 35-yard line.

The eight-play, 41-yard drive ended with kicker Wil Lutz converting the go-ahead 47-yard field goal. And it was almost all Williams.

“It was huge, getting out there and feeling like the old days,” Williams said.

On a wet and muggy afternoon that required Denver to run the rock, Williams answered the call. He rushed for 77 yards on 16 carries to help the Broncos defeat New York, 10-9, at MetLife Stadium.

For Williams, the performance was a breath of fresh air. He had a strong offseason, dropping 11 pounds in hopes of playing like he did before tearing an  ACL in 2022. That didn’t quite materialize until Sunday.

After he rushed for 52 yards on 24 carries over the first three games, Williams posted his biggest rushing total in a single game since last year’s victory over the Buffalo Bills when he ran 21 times for 79 yards.

Against the Jets, Williams averaged 4.8 yards per carry — the most since recording 5.47 yards per attempt in the win over Green Bay in Week 7 of 2023. He had gone 13 straight games without averaging at least four yards per attempt.

“Definitely (the best performance) this season,” Williams said. “It just felt good to get back to hitting holes like I’m used to and just seeing (the field) open up again.”

After running back Tyler Badie was promoted to the 53-man roster in the wake of Alex Singleton being placed on season-ending injured reserve, it appeared the former Missouri standout was in line to receive more carries in the backfield. Badie put together a career performance last week against Tampa Bay, rushing for 70 yards on nine carries. Meanwhile, Williams only totaled 12 yards on five attempts and fumbled the ball.

Badie, however, suffered a back injury in the first quarter against the Jets. He was immobilized on the sideline, then carted to the locker room.

“I don’t know what happened to (Badie), but I hope he’s good,” Williams said.

It remains to be seen if Williams can keep up this level of play in the coming weeks. At least his outing temporarily quieted concerns that he might lose his stop atop Denver’s running back depth chart.

Ahead of the game, Payton knew the Jets were better in coverage than vs. the run. The Jets gave up 310 rushing yards in their first two games before holding New England to 68 last week. But the key to igniting Williams was the offensive line, Payton said.

“We blocked them,” Payton said. “It’s easy when it’s as wet as it was, but those guys up front were the key.”