ENGLEWOOD, Colo — Running back Javonte Williams is the Broncos’ recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award.
He was recognized at the team meeting Thursday morning. Williams suffered a torn ACL in a game at Las Vegas Oct. 2, 2022 and was fully cleared in time for this year’s training camp.
“Hearing how the guys support me, hearing Russ [Wilson] and the general manager [George Paton] talk about me,’’ Williams said. “And them seeing how hard I was working this whole time and still being able to come out and play with the guys, it was really for them. I know it’s [an individual] award but it’s really for them.”
He’s played in 11 games this year, started 10 and leads the Broncos with 584 yards rushing, although on a hard-fought 3.8 yards per carry. He also has 29 catches for another 155 yards and two touchdowns.
“It was a pretty tough injury I had to come back from, but if I’m judging myself I feel like there’s still a lot more plays I left out there,’’ Williams said. “I could play a whole lot better and help my O-Line out. Everything isn’t going to be perfect, but the type of person I am, there’s still some stuff I’ve got to do on the field.”
He hasn’t quite regained his 2021 rookie form when he rushed for 903 yards on 4.4 yards per carry while splitting carries with Melvin Gordon. Williams had six runs of at least 20 yards that year, and only has one such run this season. Still, his comeback has been impressive.
“I know somebody was saying, ‘He’s coming back in the spring,’" Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said. “They’re like, ‘You can’t count on a guy that had this injury, no matter how well he’s rehabbing, and no matter how hard—’ History tells you that it’s a two-year injury.’ He’s defied that.
“He’s come back and he kind of just goes about his business. He doesn’t talk a lot. He’s even better on Sunday than what you see in practice. People told us that. They’re like, ‘Don’t judge him by what you’re seeing here in training camp. You have to be playing real football to really appreciate who this guy is.’
“Just super impressed with him, the way he’s come back from his injury. Even if I didn’t know about that, just the way he handles his business, he’s a true pro.”
The Broncos' previous five Ed Block winners: KJ Hamler (2022), Courtland Sutton (2021), Bradley Chubb (2020), Andy Janovich (2019) and Jeff Heuerman (2018). The team’s first winner was Keith Bishop in 1984. Bishop now heads the Broncos’ security department.
Developing then losing Mustipher
Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was impressed with undrafted defensive tackle P.J. Mustipher from the start of rookie minicamp in May. The Broncos worked with Mustipher through the offseason program, training camp and the preseason before placing him on their practice squad through the first 13 weeks of the regular season.
But after all that work, the Broncos lost their prospect to the New Orleans Saints, who offered Mustipher a spot on their 53-man roster and signed him away. It’s a transactional loophole that’s tough on the team that invested in him, but good for the player. The Broncos have poached their share of players away from other teams' practice squads in recent years.
“It’s that time of the year,’’ Joseph said. “It’s the last month-and-a-half of the season, and everyone’s searching for future talent. He was a guy that came in, had a great camp for us and was just waiting for his turn to play. Unfortunately, it’s a deep defensive line room. He never played, but obviously, that’s part of the league. You’re going to lose guys and gain guys. This time of the year, those things happen. Everyone’s searching for future talent and young talent, especially.”
Bronco Bits
The Broncos gave a vet day off Thursday to tight end Chris Manhertz and defensive tackle Mike Purcell. Otherwise, all Broncos players practiced in full. That the Broncos have been so healthy all season and still are as the season moves into the second week of December is a testament to the work of health and performance guru Beau Lowery, trainer Vince Garcia, strength and conditioning coach Dan Dalrymple and their staffs. …
As it turned out, Broncos special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica said Houston rookie Will Anderson didn’t partially block Riley Dixon’s punt following the Broncos’ first offensive series. Anderson got close but the ball went off the side of Dixon’s foot for a 22-yard punt that set up Houston with great field position and a field goal.
Dixon rebounded with a 57-yard punt for a fair catch on his next boot and pinned three more punts to the Houston 11, 9 and 15.
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