By R.L. Bynum
Javonte Williams continues to turn heads with his elusive running style that punishes defenders and wows fans.
He equaled the best total yardage game of his rookie season on only 17 touches in Denver’s 28–13 home victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Williams had 111 total yards with 14 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown, as well as three catches for a team-high 57 yards. In the Broncos’ Week 9 win at Dallas, Williams ran for 111 yards and had no receptions.
Williams’ nine-yard run bursting up the middle early in the second quarter gave him his first touchdown since Week 3, and second of the season.
His longest (and Denver’s longest) play of the day went for 42 yards when Williams caught a short pass from quarterback Teddy Bridgewater near the right sideline. He then either eluded or sped by three defenders down the right sideline before finally being caught.
Did Williams really think he’d get that many yards on a play like that?
“No, I thought he was gonna push me out of bounds,” Williams said. “But that’s the thing about it; I just need open grass. I was just running.”
That play set up a Denver touchdown with nine minutes left to give the Broncos a 14-point lead.
“I feel like it was really a spark for the team,” he said. “The touchdown that really closed out the game. So, any way I can help the team, that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Williams continues to play behind starter Melvin Gordon II, who rushed 17 times for 83 yards and had 1 catch for five yards.
“I feel like that establishing the run first is definitely something to help this team,” Williams said. “I feel like once we establish the run, they kind of start stacking the box and there’s more space to get open. It obviously helps with play-action and stuff like that. So, establishing the run first and then play-action passes is really the focus of our game.”
Williams showed more of his rugged running style during a fourth-quarter run for a first down, one of runs on two consecutive plays for first downs. The offensive line is now trying to push and carry Williams along.
“It’s just football,” Williams said. “I mean, they see me keep going, I think it just sparks something for them and made them keep going also.”
Next up, Denver tries to end an 11-game losing streak against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Robert Quinn had four tackles — including one for a loss — one assist and one sack in Chicago’s 16–13 overtime victory Thursday at Detroit.
Quinn has 11 sacks on the season, which is third in the league, and is a big reason that the Bears lead the NFL in sacks with 32. It’s Quinn’s fifth season with at least 10 sacks. He’s behind only Cleveland’s Myles Garrett (13) and Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watts (12.5) in sacks this season.
Michael Carter and Eric Ebron missed Sunday games after going on injured reserve last week, meaning both will miss at least two more games.
Carter missed the New York Jets’ 21–13 win at Houston with a low-grade high ankle sprain and Ebron missed Pittsburgh’s 41–10 loss at Cincinnati with a knee injury.
Charlie Heck started at right tackle for the Texans in their loss, his seventh start of the season, playing all 57 offensive snaps and three special-teams snaps.
In Washington’s 17–15 Monday night home win over Seattle, Cole Holcomb had two tackles, two assists and a recovered fumble playing all 47 defensive snaps. Dyami Brown had no statistics playing seven offensive snaps and four special-teams snaps.
James Hurst started at right tackle, playing all 57 offensive snaps, in New Orleans’ 31–6 Thursday home loss to Buffalo.
Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky got into the game late in the Bills’ win, handing off on all three of his snaps. Andre Smith had one tackle and one assist in 17 special-teams snaps.
Mack Hollins had no catches and only one target in Miami’s 33–10 home win over Carolina. He played 19 offensive snaps and 17 special-teams snaps.
Giovani Bernard played in Tampa Bay’s 38–31 win at Indianapolis but had no statistics, playing 16 special-teams snaps and only one offensive snap.
In Minnesota’s 34–26 loss at San Francisco, Myles Dorn played 18 special-teams snaps but had no statistics and Chazz Surratt wasn’t active for the game.
M.J. Stewart Jr. played but had no statistics in 17 special-teams snaps during Cleveland’s 16–10 loss Sunday night at Baltimore.
Giovani Bernard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back
38–31 win at Indianapolis — Played, no statistics; 1 offensive snap (1%) and 16 special-teams snaps (52%)
Season statistics — 9 games, 7 rushes, 55 yards (24 longest); 22 catches, 116 yards (5.4 average, longest 32 yards), 3 TDs, 1 fumble; 1 kickoff return for 18 yards
Up next — at Atlanta, 1 p.m. Sunday, Fox
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Dyami Brown, Washington wide receiver
17–15 win vs. Seattle — Played, no statistics; 7 offensive snaps (8%) and 4 special-teams snaps (17%)
Season statistics — 8 games, 8 receptions on 20 targets, 81 yards (10.1 average, longest 22 yards); 1 rush for -4 yards
Up next — at Las Vegas, 4:05 p.m. Sunday, Fox
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Michael Carter, New York Jets running back
21–13 win at Houston — Missed game with low-grade high ankle sprain
Season statistics — 9 games, 102 carries, 367 yards (3.5 average, longest 18 yards), 4 TDs; 31 receptions, 306 yards (9.9 average; longest 23)
Up next — vs. Philadelphia, 1 p.m. Sunday, CBS
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Myles Dorn, Minnesota Vikings safety
34–26 loss at San Francisco — Played, had no statistics; 18 special-teams snaps (64%)
Season statistics — 2 games, no statistics
Up next — at Detroit, 1 p.m. Sunday, CBS
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Eric Ebron, Pittsburgh Steelers tight end
41–10 loss at Cincinnati — Missed game with a knee injury; on injured reserve and will miss at least two more games
Season statistics — 9 games, 12 receptions, 84 yards (7.0 average, longest 19), 1 TD; 1 rush, 1 yard, 1 TDUp next — vs. Baltimore, 4:25 p.m. Sunday, CBS
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Charlie Heck, Houston Texans right tackle
21–14 loss vs. New York Jets — Started; played 57 offensive snaps (100%) and 3 special-teams snaps
Season statistics — 9 games, 7 starts; 382 offensive snaps, 21 special-teams snaps
Up next — vs. Indianapolis, 1 p.m. Sunday, CBS
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Cole Holcomb, Washington outside linebacker
17–15 win vs. Seattle — Started; 2 tackles, 2 assists, recovered fumble; 47 defensive snaps (100%)
Season statistics — 10 games, 53 tackles, 29 assists, 2 tackles for losses, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 1 recovered fumble, 1 interception
Up next after Seahawks — at Las Vegas, 4:05 p.m. Sunday, Fox
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Mack Hollins, Miami Dolphins wide receiver
33–10 win vs. Carolina — 0 catches on 1 target; 19 offensive snaps (26%) and 17 special-teams snaps (61%)
Season statistics — 12 games, 12 catches, 176 yards, 3 TDs; 5 special-teams tackles; 1 tackle
Up next — vs. New York Giants, 1 p.m. Sunday, Fox
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James Hurst, New Orleans Saints tackle
31–6 loss vs. Buffalo — Started at right tackle; 57 offensive snaps (100%)
Season statistics — 10 games, 8 starts; 413 offensive snaps, 31 special-teams snaps
Up next — vs. Dallas, 8:20 p.m Thursday, Fox (WRAZ in Triangle), NFL Network
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Robert Quinn, Chicago Bears outside linebacker
16–13 OT win at Detroit — Started; 4 tackles, 1 assist, 1 sack (8 yards), 1 tackle for a loss; 41 defensive snaps (84%)
Season statistics — 10 games, 29 tackles, 7 assists, 11 sacks, 10 tackles for losses, 8 QB hits, 2 forced fumbles
Up next — vs. Arizona, 1 p.m. Sunday, Fox
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Andre Smith, Buffalo Bills weakside linebacker
31–6 win at New Orleans — 1 special-teams tackle, 1 special-teams assist; 17 special-teams snaps (77%)
Season statistics — 9 games, 3 special-teams tackles, 4 special-teams assists
Up next — vs. New England, 8:15 p.m. Monday, ESPN, ESPN2
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M.J. Stewart Jr., Cleveland Browns strong safety
16–10 loss at Baltimore — Played, had no statistics; 17 special-teams snaps
Season statistics — 7 games, 8 tackles, 3 assists, 2 special-teams tackles; 1 kickoff return, 20 yards
Up next after Ravens — Off next weekend; vs. Baltimore, 1 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 12, CBS
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Chazz Surratt, Minnesota Vikings weakside linebacker
34–26 loss at San Francisco — Inactive for game
Season statistics — 6 games, no statistics
Up next — at Detroit, 1 p.m. Sunday, CBS
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Mitchell Trubisky, Buffalo Bills quarterback
31–6 win at New Orleans — Played, no statistics; 3 offensive snaps (5%)
Season statistics — 4 games; 5 of 7 passing for 28 yards (longest 8), 1 interception; 10 rushes for 27 yards (longest 22), 85.4 passer rating
Up next — vs. New England, 8:15 p.m. Monday, ESPN, ESPN2
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Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos running back
28–13 win vs. Los Angeles Chargers — 14 carries, 54 yards (12 longest), 1 TD; 3 catches on 4 targets for 57 yards (42 longest); 36 offensive snaps (58%), 1 special teams snap (5%)
Season statistics — 10 games, 100 carries, 457 yards (4.6 average; longest 49 yards), 2 TDs; 23 catches, 136 yards (5.9 average, 42 longest)
Up next — at Kansas City, 8:20 p.m. Sunday, NBC (WRAL in Triangle)
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On practice squads
Jake Bargas, Minnesota Vikings fullback
Dazz Newsome, Chicago Bears wide receiver
Antonio Williams, Buffalo Bills running back
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Injured and out for the season
Jalen Dalton, New Orleans Saints defensive tackle, suffered a triceps injury
Ryan Switzer, Cleveland Browns wide receiver, had ankle surgery Aug. 20
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