Broncos prepare for resurgent former RB Javonte Williams

The Javonte Williams resurgence is real.

The former Broncos running back returns to Denver on Sunday with the Cowboys looking not only the best he has since a devastating 2022 knee injury, but perhaps in the finest form of his career.

Through seven games, the 2021 second-round pick of the Broncos has rushed for 592 yards and six touchdowns — already surpassing the 519 and four he compiled in 17 games for Denver last season.

He’s generated 30 first downs on the ground, matching his mark from a year ago. He’s already got more yards after contact this year (462) than he generated all of last year and his 4.2 per carry after contact is not only the best mark of his career, but it’s more than he averaged per carry, period, either of his final two seasons with the Broncos.

Williams has also hit 15 miles per hour 18 times this season, according to Next Gen Stats, already four more times than last year. He didn’t have a run longer than 21 yards since his rookie season in Denver. Earlier this year, he rumbled for 66.

It all adds up to two realities: Williams is all the way back, and the Broncos have a big challenge on their hands Sunday.

“I’m one of his biggest fans,” Payton said Friday. “There’s always that, ‘What’s the market?’ And I think that he found a great opportunity. You talk about a wonderful guy. Tremendous guy, tremendous player, smart. I’m glad he’s in the NFC.”

The Broncos didn’t make Williams an offer as he approached free agency this offseason, and the sides were expected to go their separate ways through most of the winter and spring.

Williams this week called the split “mutual.” He signed a one-year deal worth $3 million with the Cowboys this spring.

“We bet right,” Dallas head coach Brian Schottenheimer said this week.

It’s turned out well for both sides. Williams has returned to form in Dallas, and the Broncos have been among the league’s more efficient running teams thanks to the work of J.K. Dobbins, who not only signed a similar deal as Williams but also overcame a similar injury earlier in his career.

Williams, in particular, is benefiting from the dynamic nature of Dallas’ offense. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is playing at an MVP level, and he’s got two premier receivers to throw to in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Tight end Jake Ferguson is fourth in the NFL with 50 catches. That gives defensive coordinators a lot to account for.

“They’re averaging, I think, 6.2 yards per rush in 11 personnel because they’re seeing a bunch of shell and they’re handing the ball off and getting clean boxes,” Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said this week, noting the decision becomes whether to leave defensive backs exposed in coverage or ask your defensive front to stop the run with lighter numbers up front.

“That’s the challenge,” he said. “That’s the cat-and-mouse game you have to play.”

Williams, though, is a big part of that challenge.

“He’s playing at a high level also,” Joseph said. “He looks like he has his legs back, explosive, he’s breaking tackles. He’s catching the football. He’s playing on all three downs, so I’m happy for that dude. He’s such a great person.

“Obviously, that’s our opponent on Sunday, so we have to get him stopped. But I’m happy for him.”

The teams are tied for third in the NFL at 4.9 yards per carry so far, and, interestingly, the Broncos are actually well ahead of Dallas in overall rushing yards per game. They check in No. 6 at 131.9 yards while the Cowboys are No. 14 at 122.1.