Video Evidence Emerges on True State of RB Javonte Williams' Knee
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton raised some eyebrows recently when he revealed his expectation for running back Javonte Williams to be ready to go for training camp. Williams suffered a brutal multi-ligament knee injury in Week 4 of last season, the type that is career-threatening.
Hall-of-Famers like Terrell Davis expressed their misgivings at the Broncos rushing Williams back too soon in the immediate aftermath of Payton's bullish outlook on his RB1. However, Williams is a unique player, and it seems that his recovery is indeed ahead of schedule.
This was evidenced by the footage of Williams, in a knee brace, participating in drills at Broncos OTAs on Thursday. He was a limited participant.
After practice, Payton again addressed Williams' outlook.
“Listen, we do a medical report every night," Payton said of Williams. "We list the players as full, limited or out. He’s working in a limited capacity. We are being smart. Obviously—and I said this to you before—we were encouraged heading into this time of the season. It’s good to have him out here.”
While it's fair to worry about Williams' being rushed back, it doesn't seem to be the case from the outside looking in. What it appears to be is a case of an extremely unique individual who has put in, in all likelihood, an enormous amount of work in the rehab process to be so ahead of schedule on his knee.
We always knew that Williams was a special character. From his decorated academic resume in high school and college, to his ferocious demeanor as a ball-carrier who looks to inflict the contact on would-be tacklers instead of eluding them as most backs do.
Williams was cut from a different cloth. And this short Twitter clip captured on Thursday is just a small piece of the evidence of his individuality.
The Broncos hedged, just in case, against the possibility of Williams not being 100% in time for the season by signing Samaje Perine. But as we inch farther into the NFL summer, it appears more and more probable that the Broncos will have their RB1 ready and champing at the bit when the cleats hit the grass in September.
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