The Denver Broncos’ 0-2 start to the season hasn’t exactly inspired confidence. In a Bleacher Report article from September 20, Kristopher Knox suggested that rookie QB Bo Nix might soon find himself benched, though that might be too extreme a move at this point. What’s clear is that the Broncos need to do more to support Nix, especially with the struggling run game.
According to Troy Renck of The Denver Post, the solution could already be on the roster. However, it’s not starter Javonte Williams, the Broncos’ 2021 first-round pick. Renck recommended that the Broncos start Tyler Badie at running back and use Williams in a third-down role against Tampa Bay.
Tyler Badie to the HOUSE. 😤
📺: #DENvsIND on NFL Networkpic.twitter.com/LLbgsfPGnS
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 11, 2024
Badie, a sixth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2022 draft, was claimed off their practice squad by the Denver Broncos. In his rookie season, he had just one carry for no gain but made an impact with a 24-yard touchdown reception on his lone target. After being elevated from the practice squad in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he gained 16 yards on a single carry and caught one pass for two yards, playing just three offensive snaps according to Pro Football Reference.
Head coach Sean Payton faced questions about Badie’s limited usage, acknowledging that the team had planned to involve him more in Week 2. Payton explained that with running back Audric Estime out, it’s challenging to integrate a third back, but Badie’s performance did catch his attention.
“It’s something you notice as a play-caller,” Payton said on September 16. “He had his name on several plays—red zone and situational—that we just didn’t get to.”
Payton emphasized that Badie’s minimal involvement wasn’t deliberate and admitted the Broncos need to do a better job of capitalizing on a player’s momentum. Though Badie is undersized for a lead back at 5-foot-8 and 195 pounds, his talent hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Broncos RB Javonte Williams Underperforming in Contract Year
Javonte Williams, standing at 5-foot-10 and 220 pounds, hasn’t looked quite the same since his return from a torn ACL. In 2024, he’s logged 19 carries for just 40 yards, with a career-low average of 2.1 yards per carry, continuing a downward trend. After posting 4.3 and 4.4 yards per carry in his first two seasons, he managed only 3.6 in 2023, his first season back after the injury.
Sean Payton had higher expectations for Williams this season, particularly as the back has slimmed down and had more time to recover from the surgery. While Payton praised his conditioning, he didn’t hold back on constructive criticism, noting Williams missed some cuts and needed to improve his vision on the field. “I saw it in training camp, and I look forward to seeing it this season,” Payton said, referencing Williams’ potential.
This season is pivotal for Williams, who is in the final year of his four-year, $8.8 million contract. Without a strong performance, he might struggle to secure the lucrative deal he would be hoping for in free agency.
Sean Payton Seeking Improvement From Running Game
Sean Payton has expressed a desire to get Javonte Williams and the rest of the Broncos’ running backs more involved in the offense. While he defended rookie QB Bo Nix by pointing to the offensive line after Week 1, Payton gave Williams some slack in Week 2 as well. He emphasized that improving the run game is a collective effort.
“It’s probably a combination of all of us,” Payton explained. “We need to start with design and scheme, then look at execution. I just reviewed a play where we gained 3 yards, but it should’ve been 7. How we block the backside needs to be cleaned up.”
Payton noted the importance of patience, but he made it clear that the run game begins with the offensive line’s performance. He also mentioned scatback Jaleel McLaughlin as someone who deserves more touches. Through two games, McLaughlin has rushed for 33 yards on 13 carries, including 10 carries for 27 yards against the Raiders and 3 carries for 6 yards against the Steelers.
The overall message is that the Broncos need to rely more heavily on their running game to ease the pressure on their rookie quarterback—a responsibility Payton acknowledged falls on him as the playcaller.
