Broncos coach Sean Payton said Saturday the team expects running back Javonte Williams to be ready for the start of training camp, the most optimistic timeline given yet for the third-year starter recovering from a major knee injury he suffered last October.

Related Players: Samaje Perine, Tony Jones

Williams, a second-round pick in 2021, suffered an ACL tear in Week 4 against the Raiders last season and sustained other damage in the knee as well. Being ready for the start of training camp would represent a relatively rapid recovery for Williams, whose absence was felt significantly by Denver’s league-worst offense last season.

We'll need more positive reports before we can feel wholly comfortable drafting Williams in ongoing best ball leagues. It still feels very likely that the team may add an additional veteran piece to this equation.

Buccaneers are signing former Broncos’ running back Chase Edmonds to a one-year deal.

Related Players: Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Rachaad White, Ke'Shawn Vaughn

Edmonds will more than likely split snaps with Ke'Shawn Vaughn and possibly even another late-round running back in Tampa Bay.

The Broncos are signing RB Latavius Murray off the Saints’ practice squad, per source.

With Javonte Williams out for the season, Murray now joins Melvin Gordon and Mike Boone in the Denver backfield.

Murray was just in action in London rushing for a TD and 57 yards. Gordon and Boone should carry most of the load at the running back spot but Murray is an injury away from having significant time, and it's worth noting since Gordon was also banged up a little in Week 4.

Broncos RB Javonte Williams suffered a torn ACL in Sunday’s loss to the Raiders. His season is over.

Related Players: Melvin Gordon, Mike Boone

A devastating end to what was shaping up to be a positive sophomore season for Williams. The Broncos were all but willing to bench Gordon, possibly for the entirety of the game, after his fourth lost fumble of the season turned into a 68-yard return for a defensive touchdown in the second quarter. It was Gordon's first touch of the game, and he was not the team's first choice to replace Williams directly after the injury, as Mike Boone out-snapped Gordon 19-to-10 and out-touched him 4-to-3. Outside of fullback Andrew Beck, Denver doesn't have another option behind Gordon/Boone, so a free agent veteran signing could be in the works.

Broncos RB Javonte Williams left the locker room on crutches and will have an MRI on his injured knee Monday.

The injury occurred in the second half. Without Williams, Denver's running game did not fare very well against the Raiders, particularly Melvin Gordon, who had just 8 yards on 3 carries and lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown, leading to Vegas' 32-23 win to give the Raiders their first win of the season. If Williams misses time, Gordon and Mike Boone could split the reps going forward. Boone had 20 yards on three carries and was also targeted three times in the passing game. Both he and DE Randy Gregory are set for MRIs Monday.

As has been reiterated all offseason long, we hear one last time that the Broncos will be employing s split backfield between Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon

Related Players: Matt Boone

Given how similar the two backs' fantasy floors are, it's incredible that there is a seven-round difference in their ADPs. Starting Javonte Williams as your team's RB1 is sure to deliver headaches throughout the season. Gordon is expected to handle high-leverage situations like goal line and short yardage work.

Melvin Gordon on Javonte Williams getting the first snaps at practice: “They want ‘Vonte to be the guy”

This shouldn't come as a surprise. Gordon signed late in the game likely already knowing Williams may lead the way in snaps and touches out of the backfield. Still, Gordon should likely be involved and possibly a lot. Those who cover the team have said the split is around 60-40 in favor of Williams this summer. Finding a way to have both backs on your fantasy roster would be ideal - Williams is going in the late 2nd while Gordon is getting picked in the early 9th round.

Melvin Gordon appears to be a full participant in practice.

Related players: Javonte Williams

Before Gordon went down there was a lot of talk about the workload split in practice with Williams. Some said it was 70-30 in favor of Williams but others argued it was more like 60-40. Gordon and Williams are poised to have similar roles, much like last year, we think. That's obviously going to cap Williams potential, especially after the team brought back Gordon, who was a free agent.

Broncos reporter Benjamin Allbright contests that the split between second-year Javonte Williams and veteran Melvin Gordon has "NOT been 70/30, per rep chart, it's 54/46".

It doesn't get much closer to splitting reps right down the middle than "54/46". Both backs can still be fantasy viable, but clearly, there is a cap to each one's production as long as the other is in the way. It's very possible both could end up nearing RB2 numbers, which would make Melvin Gordon far and away a better value at his current ninth-round ADP.

Source: MRI confirmed Broncos standout WR Tim Patrick suffered season-ending ACL injury Tuesday.

Related players: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, K.J. Hamler, Kendall Hinton, Albert Okwuegbunam, Javonte Williams, Melvin Gordon

The worst is confirmed for Patrick, and he'll miss the 2022 season. Hamler should see an increased role as the team's WR3, but it could also mean more passing work for the RBs and TE Okwuegbunam.