Broncos HC believes formerly injured RB will finally be at 'full speed'

Last season, the Broncos finished in the bottom half of the league in rushing attempts, yards per carry and rushing touchdowns.

Head coach Sean Payton knows that must change with two unproven quarterbacks in Zach Wilson and first-round rookie Bo Nix.

"Our tight red zone was awful," Payton said , via Jeff Legwold of ESPN. "Our opportunities, I think, were decent ... [but] inside the 10, first-and-goal-to-go, that wasn't good enough. ... That's unusual, that bothered me a lot. Those are four-point swings, really, if you kick a field goal instead of scoring a touchdown."

A big factor in Denver's success or lack thereof this season will be fourth-year running back Javonte Williams.

The former second-round pick in 2021 impressed as a rookie, rushing for 904 yards and four touchdowns, but in Week 4 of 2022, he suffered tears to his ACL, LCL and posterolateral corner.

Of course, that ended his 2022 campaign and seemed to have lasting effects on him last season, as he ran for just 774 yards and three touchdowns.

Payton believes Williams will finally be back to full speed now two years removed from the injury.

"I think historically speaking, when you talk to the experts, they say that the complete heal finishes at two years," Payton added. "Obviously, you begin playing before then. ... The challenge last year was really when you think about it, even in training camp, it was still early enough in the process where it was hard for him to go full speed with confidence."

If Williams, heading into the final year of his rookie deal, hopes to cash in next offseason, he will need to have his best season yet in an undervalued running back market.

He may have to share the backfield with running back Samaje Perine, who just joined the team in free agency, but it sounds like Payton will allow Williams to turn his career back around.

"You have to be efficient running the ball," Payton concluded. "We have to be better ... across the board."