By R.L. Bynum
Running back Javonte Williams continued to be a workhorse for Denver and had his best game of the season Monday night as the streaking Broncos won at Buffalo 24–22.
He’s working back into the physical, punishing form familiar to Tar Heels fans after he suffered ACL and LCL tears in Week 4 in 2022 and missed the rest of the season. The Broncos coaching staff eased him into the offense early in the season, as he never got more than 15 carries in the first six games.
Denver has unleashed him in the last two weeks with 48 rushes and 55 touches, and it’s no coincidence that the Broncos have won three consecutive games.
Williams gained a season-high 110 total yards — his first time over 100 this season — with 79 rushing yards on 21 carries and 31 receiving yards, catching all four passes targeted to him, and his second touchdown this season.
That’s the best showing from Denver’s second-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft since collecting 178 yards (102 rushing and 76 receiving) in a 22–9 road loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 28, 2021, during his rookie season.
With former N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson under heavy pressure, Williams caught a short pass and scored on a three-yard touchdown play with 5:06 left to give Denver a 21–16 lead. Williams’ longest run of the game, an 11-yard play, came two plays earlier.
Buffalo grabbed a 22–21 lead on a Josh Allen 6-yard touchdown run with 1:55 left, but Will Lutz won it for the Broncos on a 36-yard field goal as time expired.
Williams put up a season-high 21.0 fantasy points and has produced double-digit points in all three games during the win streak after putting up 12.6 in the 19–17 win over Green Bay and 18.8 in the 24–9 win over Kansas City.
You’ll get a chance to see Williams in prime time next week as Denver is on the 8:20 Sunday night NBC game against Minnesota. Vikings running back Ty Chandler ran for 45 yards and a touchdown in their 27–19 Sunday win over New Orleans.
On Tuesday afternoon, the New York Jets released Williams’ former backfield teammate at UNC Michael Carter. The fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft played in 10 games this season, with eight carries for 38 yards and 15 receptions for 68 yards.
For a rundown on how the rest of the Tar Heels did during Week 10, read this earlier Tar Heel Tribune roundup.
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
Age 23 | 6–0, 195 | third NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Second-string WR behind Terry McLaurin
29–26 loss at Seattle — 2 catches on 2 targets, 41 yards (35 longest), 1 TD; 11 offensive snaps (18%), 4 special-teams snaps (11%)
Season statistics — 10 games, 1 start; 10 catches, 161 yards (35 longest), 1 TD; 1 rush, 0 yards
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New York Giants, Fox
Michael Carter, New York Jets running back
Age 24 | 5–8, 201 | third NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Jets released him Tuesday.
16–12 loss at Las Vegas — 0 catches on 1 target; 9 offensive snaps(14%)
Season statistics — 9 games, 8 carries, 38 yards (9 longest); 15 catches, 68 yards (10 longest)
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings running back
Age 25 | 5–11, 204 | second NFL season | UNC 2021
Roster situation — Second-string RB behind Alexander Mattison
27–19 win vs. New Orleans — 15 carries, 45 yards (13 longest), 1 TD; 32 offensive snaps (44%), 8 special-teams snaps (28%)
Season statistics — 10 games, 23 carries, 87 yards (15 longest), 1 TD; 5 catches, 43 yards (18 longest), 8.6 average; 3 kickoff returns, 82 yards (33 longest)
Up next — 8:30 Sunday at Denver, NBC
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 22 | 5–9, 171 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting wide receiver ahead of Isaiah McKenzie
10–6 win vs. New England in Frankfurt, Germany — Didn’t start; 2 catches on 3 targets, 40 yards (28 longest); 14 offensive snaps (25%)
Season statistics — 10 games, 6 starts; 43 catches, 523 yards (59 longest), 2 TDs
Up next after Week 11 open date — 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, vs. Tampa Bay, CBS
Antoine Green, Detroit Lions wide receiver
Age 23 | 6–2, 199 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver behind Marvin Jones Jr.
41–38 win at Los Angeles Chargers — Played, but had no statistics; 7 offensive snaps (11%), 8 special-teams snaps (27%)
Season statistics — 8 games, 1 catch, 2 targets, 2 yards
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Chicago, Fox
Mack Hollins, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Age 30 | 6–4, 221 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2013–16
Roster situation — Listed as starting wide receiver ahead of KhaDarel Hodge
25–23 loss at Arizona — Not active for the game (ankle injury)
Season statistics — 9 games, 3 starts; 17 catches, 29 targets, 247 yards (45 longest), 3 catches of at least 20 yards, 1 catch of at least 40 yards; 1 special-teams tackle
Up next after Week 11 open date — 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, vs. New Orleans, Fox
Sam Howell, Washington Commanders quarterback
Age 23 | 6–1, 220 | second NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Starting QB ahead of Jacoby Brissett
29–26 loss at Seattle — Started; 29 of 44, 312 yards (51 longest), 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 3 sacks for 24 yards, 109.3 passer rating; 2 carries, 17 yards (15 longest), 24.8 fantasy points, 61 offensive snaps (100%)
Season statistics — 10 games, 10 starts; 264 of 397, 66.5%, 2,783 yards (51 longest), 17 touchdowns, 9 interceptions; 31 carries, 174 yards (24 longest), 1 touchdown
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New York Giants, Fox
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 26 | 5–10, 191 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Second string cornerback behind A.J. Terrell
25–23 loss at Arizona — 1 assist; 18 defensive snaps (28%), 5 special-teams snaps
Season statistics — 9 games, 4 tackles, 4 assists, 11 punt returns, 67 yards (16 longest), 6 fair catches; 3 kickoff returns, 46 yards (19 longest), 15.3 average
Up next after Week 11 open date — 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, vs. New Orleans, Fox
James Hurst, New Orleans Saints offensive lineman
Age 31 | 6–5, 310 | 10th NFL season | UNC 2010–13
Roster situation — Listed as starting left guard ahead of Andrus Peat
27–19 loss at Minnesota — Started at left guard; 67 offensive snaps (100%)
Season statistics — 7 games, 7 starts; 497 offensive snaps, 9 special-teams snaps
Up next after Week 11 open date — 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, at Atlanta, Fox
Marcus McKethan, New York Giants offensive lineman
Age 23 | 6–7, 335 | second NFL season | UNC 2018–21
Roster situation — Listed as starting right guard ahead of Mark Glowinski
49–17 loss at Dallas — Played off the bench; 11 offensive snaps(19%), 3 special-teams snaps (10%)
Season statistics — 8 games, 5 starts; 382 offensive snaps, 21 special-teams snaps
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Washington, Fox
Asim Richards, Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman
Age 23 | 6–4, 307 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left guard behind Tyler Smith
49–17 win vs. New York Giants — Not active for the game
Season statistics — 6 games; 32 offensive snaps, 24 special-teams snaps entering the weekend
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Carolina, Fox
Chazz Surratt, New York Jets linebacker
Age 26 | 6–2, 233 | third NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Second-string linebacker behind Quincy Williams
16–12 loss at Las Vegas — Not active for game
Season statistics — 6 games, 2 special-teams tackles, 1 special-teams assist
Up next — 4:25 Sunday at Buffalo, CBS
Mitchell Trubisky, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Age 29 | 6–2, 220 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Kenny Pickett
23–19 win vs. Green Bay — Didn’t play
Season statistics — 2 games, 18 of 32, 156 yards (22 longest), 1 TD, 2 INTs; 3 rushes, 18 yards (8 longest)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Cleveland, CBS
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos running back
Age 23 | 5–10, 220 | third NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back ahead of Samaje Perine
24–22 win at Buffalo — Started; 21 rushes, 79 yards (11 longest); 4 catches on 4 targets, 31 yards (18 longest), 1 touchdown; 39 offensive snaps (52%), 21.0 fantasy points
Season statistics — 8 games, 7 starts; 111 carries, 436 yards (21 longest), 3.9 average; 21 catches, 25 targets, 109 yards (18 longest), 2 TDs; 2-point conversion run
Up next — 8:20 Sunday vs. Minnesota, NBC
Released
Running back Michael Carter by Jets on Tuesday.
On PUP list
Houston left tackle Charlie Heck (undisclosed injury)
On injured reserve
New York Giants left tackle Joshua Ezeudu (toe injury)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb (left knee injury)
Houston safety M.J. Stewart Jr. (shoulder fracture)
On injured reserve
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Andre Smith (has played 1 game and recorded 1 tackle)
New York Giants linebacker Tomon Fox
Waived during training camp
Fullback Jake Bargas by New Orleans
Defensive back Myles Dorn by Miami
Cornerback Kyler McMichael by Arizona
Wide receiver Dazz Newsome by San Francisco
Nose tackle Raymond Vohasek by Jacksonville
Other free agents
Aaron Crawford, defensive tackle — Baltimore released him in training camp before last season; the New York Giants signed him Nov. 8 but released him the next day.
Jalen Dalton, defensive tackle — Atlanta waived him on June 7 (he had 8 tackles, 5 assists in 7 games for the Falcons last season), Carolina claimed him June 8 but waived him June 12 with a failed physical designation.
Jeremiah Gemmel, linebacker — San Francisco released him early last season, then Denver signed and later released him.
Bug Howard, tight end — Tampa Bay released him during training camp last season on an injury settlement. He signed with the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars on Feb. 8 but they put him on the inactive list on March 19.
Austin Proehl, wide receiver — The New York Giants released him last season during training camp. He played this spring for the XFL’s St. Louis BattleHawks. In nine games, he caught 25 passes for 225 yards and one touchdown.
Robert Quinn, defensive tackle — His contract expired after finishing last season with Philadelphia. The 33-year-old veteran played 13 games, with seven starts, eight tackles (1 for a loss), two assists and one sack.
Jordan Tucker, defensive tackle — Pittsburgh released him during 2022 training camp. He signed with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders in the offseason and didn’t make the roster in preseason but is back on their roster.
Antonio Williams, running back — He was briefly on the New York Giants’ practice squad last season but was released on Oct. 5. He signed on Feb. 13 with the CFL’s BC Lions, who released him on June 27.
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