Russell Wilson gets key update on important weapon

Denver Broncos QB Russell Wilson is expected to have a key weapon back at his side for the start of the 2023 NFL season. 

The Denver Broncos are hoping for a redemption arc next season, and no individual player needs it more than Russell Wilson.

The Super Bowl champ was traded to Denver before the season and swiftly rewarded with a five-year, $242.6 million extension in line with his reputation and career accomplishments. Wilson rewarded the Broncos with his worst individual season to date.

Now the Broncos have a new head coach and famed QB whisperer at the reins in Sean Payton, the shepherd behind Drew Brees’ Hall of Fame career in New Orleans. It will be Payton’s job to get Wilson back on track, but he needs a full complement of offensive weapons around Wilson to achieve that goal.

Luckily for Denver fans, there’s some good news on that front.

Denver Broncos RB Javonte Williams on track to participate in training camp

The Broncos are expected to have running back Javonte Williams back in the saddle when training camp starts on July 25. As he told reporters at a football camp over the weekend: “I feel like I’m ready to go” (h/t ESPN’s Jeff Legwold).

Williams ran for 903 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie in 2021. Last season, he was off to a strong start — 204 yards on 47 carries — before tearing his ACL and watching his sophomore breakout evaporate into thin air.

Now, the 23-year-old from UNC is hoping to get back to action as soon as possible. The Broncos could use a full training camp to get him acclimated to Sean Payton’s offense, but that doesn’t mean Williams will force it. “I don’t want to get back on the field playing scared or timid,” he told ESPN. “So when I do get back out there, I want to be 100 percent.”

A powerful downhill runner, Williams is known for his ability to break tackles and scrap his way to yards after contract (460 as a rookie, over half his total yardage). He broke 31 tackles in that fateful first season and he figures to get plenty of early-down work as Denver’s lead back.

Samaje Perine will share the backfield and split touches with Williams, but the latter figures to handle the lion’s share of Payton’s designed runs. Perine is more of a third-down back, coming off his best season as a pass catcher in the NFL (287 yards on 36 receptions).

For Russell Wilson, there’s no overstating the value of a good, explosive runner like Williams compared to Denver’s options last season post-ACL injury. Wilson simply has to play better, but Williams will change how defenses game plan and potentially open up more downfield receiving options for Wilson.

Denver has a lot to prove. Payton is a great head coach, but a coach is only as good as his best weapons. If Wilson can’t rekindle the flame of yesteryear, Denver is destined for another season of mediocrity. However, if the Broncos have a resurgent Wilson and a healthy Williams, we could be having very different conversations about the team when next summer rolls around.