Broncos RB Javonte Williams feels 100 percent after first game since ACL tear

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Under the bright lights at Levi’s Stadium, Broncos running back Javonte Williams admitted he was a bit nervous.

Denver’s second preseason matchup against the San Francisco 49ers didn’t count toward anything record-wise, but for Williams, it was his first game since tearing his ACL in October. He spent the offseason grinding through the recovery process just to be cleared for training camp. On Saturday night, he faced another hurdle: live contact.

So, what did the third-year running back do? He dropped a wide-open pass from quarterback Russell Wilson on the first play of the game.

“He must not like screens that are wide open,” head coach Sean Payton joked. “I gave him a hard time on that first play, but it was good to get him back in.”

Preseason football might be the only time there are small victories within tough defeats. In the Broncos’ 21-20 loss to the 49ers, in which they blew an 8-point lead in the fourth, they walked away knowing Williams had returned.

“I feel 100%,” Williams said.

Williams’ numbers were not glamorous. He rushed for 12 yards on three carries and caught four passes for 18 yards, including a 12-yard reception in the first. However, he showed he could handle the heavy workload early in the game.

Williams was targeted three times and ran once on the first drive of the night. On Denver’s second offensive drive, Williams had three carries and even broke loose for an 8-yard gain before getting stuffed by multiple San Francisco defenders. Williams said there was a sigh of relief when he got up from the ground without feeling pain.

“Getting tackled again was the biggest hurdle I had left,” Williams said. “It was like a weight lifted off of me.”

Payton said Williams’ involvement early in the game wasn’t scripted. He knew Williams would play between 10 and 12 snaps on Saturday, but the flow of the game dictated his production.

Wilson couldn’t hold back the joy he had for Williams. He praised Williams’ work ethic to get healthy and was thrilled to see him make plays against San Francisco.