Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams still has a long way back to the field after tearing his ACL and LCL in a knee injury during Week 4 of the 2022 NFL season, but he's already making strides in the right direction ahead of Denver's training camp.
Williams, 23, will not start training camp on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list, according to NFL Network correspondent James Palmer.
#broncos RB Javonte Williams will not start training camp on PUP I’m told. It had been pointing in that direction all off season, and the team officially has decided he won’t start on PUP. A great sign for his chances Week 1
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) July 23, 2023
Williams, who underwent knee surgery in October of 2022, also participated in Denver's OTA's, taking part in drills with the rest of the team.
While the news surrounding the rehabilitation of Javonte Williams's knee injury has been positive, staying off the PUP list was the first major hurdle for Williams to clear in his chances of being active to start Week 1. The Broncos will kickoff the regular season at home against the Raiders on September 10th.
Denver's offense sputtered without Williams in the lineup last year, as the Broncos were dead last in points scored last season and ranked 21st in rushing yards in what quickly became a lost season after Williams's knee injury.
Broncos QB Russell Wilson recently explained what Williams can bring to the lineup to Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette.
“One of the best backs in the game,” Wilson said. “He’s a guy hard to tackle. He’s got great hands. He’s great in protection. He strikes guys in protection. He runs through holes, runs through tackles. He brings a lot of great confidence in what he can do.”
Williams burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2021, totaling over 1,200 total yards and seven touchdowns.
New Broncos head coach Sean Payton brings a long history of running successful offenses with him to Denver. In 15 seasons with the Saints, Payton's offense ranked first in total yards six times and reached the top-10 an amazing 12 times. Williams is slated to play an important role in that offensive production moving forward.
It's unclear whether Javonte Williams will participate in preseason games at this point, but being kept off the PUP list for training camp is good news for Broncos fans anxiously awaiting his return to the field.
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