By R.L. Bynum
Denver Broncos fans didn’t get a win Sunday night at Kansas City but many got what they had been clamoring for: rookie running back Javonte Williams in the starting lineup.
Although the Broncos disappointed them in a 22–9 loss to the Chiefs, Williams did not.
Williams put up a season-high yardage total for the second consecutive week, this time with 178 yards. Williams ran for 102 yards on a season-high 23 carries and caught a team-high six passes on nine targets for 76 yards and a touchdown. His highest previous carries total was 17 on Nov. 7 when he ran for a season-high 111 yards.
Williams gained 92 of his 102 rushing yards after contact, the third-most by any player this season. He’s the first rookie in Broncos franchise history to run for at least 100 yards and get at least 75 reception yards in a game.
Williams, who had 111 total yards the week before against the Los Angeles Chargers, made his first NFL start after Melvin Gordon III was ruled out with shoulder and hip injuries. That meant that Williams played a season-high 78% of the Broncos’ offensive snaps.
The touchdown came late in the fourth quarter when quarterback Teddy Bridgewater found Williams open on the left side. He caught it and trotted in untouched for a 13-yard scoring play.
Here are more Williams highlights in an NFL video that can’t be embedded.
In Washington’s 17–15 win at Las Vegas, Cole Holcomb had seven tackles and three assists and made several excellent plays. He broke up a pass in the third quarter to save what would have likely been a Raiders touchdown.
Dyami Brown caught the only pass that targeted to him for a six-yard gain for Washington.
Mack Hollins only had one catch in Miami’s 20–9 victory over the New York Giants, but it went for five yards and a touchdown. It was a spinning catch on the left side of the end zone.
Giovani Bernard returned a couple of punts in Tampa Bay’s 30–17 win at Atlanta, going for seven yards. He had one rush for three yards and a reception for seven yards.
Robert Quinn had three tackles, two for losses, in Chicago’s 33–22 home loss to Arizona.
Myles Dorn and Chazz Surratt both played exclusively on special teams with no statistics in Minnesota’s 29–27 loss at Detroit.
Charlie Heck started at right tackle in the Houston Texans’ 31–0 home loss to Indianapolis and played all 52 offensive snaps.
James Hurst started at left tackle and played all 70 offensive snaps in New Orleans’ 27–17 loss to Dallas.
In Buffalo’s 14–10 home loss Monday night to New England, Andre Smith played 17 special-teams snaps with no statistics and Mitch Trubisky didn’t get into the game.
Giovani Bernard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back
30–17 win at Atlanta — 1 rush, 3 yards; 1 catch on 2 targets, 7 yards; 2 punt returns, 7 yards; 7 offensive snaps (10%) and 9 special-teams snaps (35%)
Season statistics — 10 games, 8 rushes, 58 yards (24 longest); 23 catches, 123 yards, 3 TDs, 1 fumble; 1 kickoff return for 18 yards; 2 punt returns, 7 yards
Up next — vs. Buffalo, 4:25 p.m. Sunday, CBS
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Dyami Brown, Washington wide receiver
17–15 win at Las Vegas — 1 catch on 1 target, 6 yards; 6 offensive snaps (9%) and 6 special-teams snaps (26%)
Season statistics — 9 games, 9 receptions on 21 targets, 87 yards (longest 22 yards); 1 rush for -4 yards
Up next — vs. Dallas, 1 p.m. Sunday, Fox
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Michael Carter, New York Jets running back
vs. Philadelphia — On injured reserve: Missed second of at least three consecutive games 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. New Orleans, 1 p.m. Sunday, CBS
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Myles Dorn, Minnesota Vikings safety
29–27 loss at Detroit — Played, no statistics; 19 special-teams snaps (70%)
Season statistics — 3 games, no statistics
Up next — vs. Pittsburgh, 8:20 p.m. Thursday, Fox (WRAZ in Triangle), NFL Network, Amazon
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Eric Ebron, Pittsburgh Steelers tight end
20–19 win vs. Baltimore — On injured reserve: Missed second of at least three consecutive games with knee injury
Season statistics — 9 games, 12 receptions, 84 yards (7.0 average, longest 19), 1 TD; 1 rush, 1 yard, 1 TDUp next — at Minnesota, 8:20 p.m. Thursday, Fox (WRAZ in Triangle), NFL Network, Amazon
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Charlie Heck, Houston Texans right tackle
31–0 loss vs. Indianapolis — Started; played all 52 offensive snaps
Season statistics — 10 games, 8 starts; 434 offensive snaps, 21 special-teams snaps
Up next — vs. Seattle, 1 p.m. Sunday, Fox
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Cole Holcomb, Washington outside linebacker
17–15 win at Las Vegas — Started; 7 tackles, 3 assists, 2 passes defended; played all 59 defensive snaps
Season statistics — 11 games, 60 tackles, 32 assists, 2 tackles for losses, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 1 recovered fumble, 1 interception
Up next — vs. Dallas, 1 p.m. Sunday, Fox
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Mack Hollins, Miami Dolphins wide receiver
20–9 win vs. New York Giants — 1 catch on 1 target, 5 yards, TD; 9 offensive snaps (13%) and 18 special-teams snaps (60%)
Season statistics — 13 games, 13 catches, 181 yards, 4 TDs; 5 special-teams tackles; 1 tackle
Up next — Off next weekend; vs. New York Jets, 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, CBS
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James Hurst, New Orleans Saints tackle
27–17 loss vs. Dallas — Started at left tackle; played all 70 offensive snaps and 4 special-teams snaps (12%)
Season statistics — 11 games; 9 starts, 483 offensive snaps, 35 special-teams snaps
Up next — at New York Jets, 1 p.m. Sunday, CBS
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Robert Quinn, Chicago Bears outside linebacker
33–22 loss vs. Arizona — Started; 3 tackles, 2 tackles for losses; 40 defensive snaps (75%)
Season statistics — 11 games, 31 tackles, 7 assists, 11 sacks, 12 tackles for losses, 8 QB hits, 2 forced fumbles
Up next — at Green Bay, 8:20 p.m. Sunday, NBC (WRAL in Triangle)
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Andre Smith, Buffalo Bills weakside linebacker
14–10 loss vs. New England — Played, no statistics; 17 special-teams snaps (74%)
Season statistics — 10 games, 3 special-teams tackles, 4 special-teams assists
Up next after Patriots — at Tampa Bay, 4:25 p.m. Sunday, CBS
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M.J. Stewart Jr., Cleveland Browns strong safety
Off this weekend
Season statistics — 6 games, 8 tackles, 3 assists, 2 special-teams tackles; 1 kickoff return, 20 yards
Up next — vs. Baltimore, 1 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 12, CBS
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Chazz Surratt, Minnesota Vikings weakside linebacker
29–27 loss at Detroit — Played, no statistics; 17 special-teams snaps (63%)
Season statistics — 7 games, no statistics
Up next — vs. Pittsburgh, 8:20 p.m. Thursday, Fox (WRAZ in Triangle), NFL Network, Amazon
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Mitchell Trubisky, Buffalo Bills quarterback
14–10 loss vs. New England — Didn’t play
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
22–9 loss at Kansas City — Started; 23 carries, 102 yards (14 longest); 6 catches, 76 yards (34 longest), TD; 60 offensive snaps (78%)
Season statistics — 11 games, 123 carries, 559 yards (4.5 average; longest 49 yards), 2 TDs; 29 catches, 212 yards (7.4 average, 42 longest)
Up next — vs. Detroit, 4:05 p.m. Sunday, Fox
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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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