ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos had held out hope veteran nickel cornerback K'Waun Williams would return from his foot injury for the second half of the season.
That hope is now all but exhausted as the foot didn't heal as hoped from a surgery in August. A league source tells 9NEWS Williams will now undergo a second surgery Monday in North Carolina, where Dr. Robert Anderson will again perform the operation.
Williams first suffered a foot injury that required surgery in 2015 while he was with the Cleveland Browns. The foot injury resurfaced this year during training camp with the Broncos.
Williams, 32, underwent a less extensive foot surgery in August while the Broncos maneuvered their season-opening, 53-man roster so he was on it for one day, but then moved to short-term injured reserve the next day.
At the time, Williams and the Broncos were hoping he could return after their week 9 bye. But after a week or so of rehab on a side field earlier this month, Williams was shut down two weeks ago.
After considerable consultation with the Broncos' medical staff and Dr. Anderson, it was determined Williams needed a more extensive surgery that hopefully will correct the issue once and for all.
For now the expectation is a 12-week recovery which means unless the Broncos reach the AFC Divisional (second) round of the playoffs, Williams' season is finished. The Broncos are currently 1-5 entering their game Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
The Broncos replaced Williams at the nickel position first with Essang Bassey but after he was waived, the position was assigned to second-year player Ja'Quan McMillian.
Williams had played two seasons with the Browns and five with the San Francisco 49ers before signing a two-year, $5.2 million contract as a free agent in March 2021 with the Broncos. He played well in 14 games for Denver last year, recording 44 tackles, an interception and a sack despite playing all season with a club-like cast to protect torn ligaments.
Broncos claim NT Coburn from Chiefs
Constantly looking to upgrade their run defense since the Miami debacle, the Broncos claimed rookie nose tackle Keondre Coburn off waivers Friday from the Kansas City Chiefs.
Coburn was a sixth-round draft pick out of Texas, where he played five seasons. Coburn is massive at nearly 6-foot-2 and 332 pounds. He played in the Chiefs' season opener against the Detroit Lions and had one tackle.
The Broncos liked his predraft and preseason tape and decided he was worth bringing in for a look.
Humphrey here, gone, likely back again
To make room for Coburn on their 53-man roster, the Broncos released veteran receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey in what figures to be a procedural move. Humphrey is expected to sign back to the Broncos' practice squad Saturday and is expected to be quickly elevated to the game-day roster for a third and final time this season.
Humphrey started this week on the Broncos' practice squad, was promoted to the 53-man roster Wednesday and then cut again Friday.
Humphrey has played in all six games for the Broncos this season, two as an elevated practice squad player. The Packers would make seven games and three as a practice squad elevation. But after Sunday, if the Broncos want to continue to use the veteran receiver on game day he must come from their 53-man roster.
Humphrey scored the first touchdown of the season for the Broncos in their Game1 loss to the Raiders and has 4 catches for 26 yards on the season.
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