Team news: Denver Broncos | Page 10

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.

#Jets coach Robert Saleh says Zac Wilson fully participated in practice again and is off the injury report. He'll make his 2022 debut Sunday vs. the Steelers.

It remains to be seen if the offense will run differently through Wilson than it did with Joe Flacco, but the former has yet to show hints that he has the tools to be viable in typical QB1 leagues.

Robert Saleh says Zach Wilson is back.

Related players: Joe Flacco

The Jets say Wilson's knee is 100% and he's expected to practice fully this week. Assuming all continues to go well, Wilson will start in Week 4.

“Zach Wilson’s the future of the organization. We all know that,” Saleh said. “As soon as the doctors clear him, we’ll get him on the field.”

Related players: Joe Flacco

The author played "what if," and imagined Flacco comes out in Week 3 and throws four TDs and knocks off the Bengals - would the team still turn the ball over to Wilson? While the author admitted it isn't likely, he suggested letting Flacco play until his "37-year-old wheels fall off." It makes sense to ride the hot hand, especially if Flacco would again play well. It could be coach-speak, but it seems like the Jets are prepared to go with Wilson once he's ready.

Zach Wilson participated in practice on Wednesday for the first time since he hurt his knee in August. Wilson had meniscus surgery four weeks ago to address the injury and has been rehabbing away from the field until this week.

Related players: Joe Flacco, Mike White

Flacco was already announced as the starter for Week 2. Saleh said before the opener that Wilson won’t be available until at least Week 4. Sticking to that plan would give Wilson three weeks of practice before he would make his 2022 debut against the Steelers, the story concluded. Flacco was nearly pulled in Week 1 and the crowd was chanting for White to replace him. Flacco may not make it to Wilson's return.

New York fans chanted Mike White's name during Sunday's season-opening loss to the Ravens, but the Jets aren't planning a quarterback change for Week 2.

Veteran Joe Flacco, who replaced injured Zach Wilson, will start Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, a source told ESPN.

Wilson could be out for at least one more week with a possible Week 4 return. As the story pointed out, Flacco struggled in Week 1 against the Ravens and his lack of mobility stood out. Those wanting to back up Wilson in deeper leagues or dynasty leagues may want to keep an eye on White.

Jets’ HC Robert Saleh said it’s likely that the earliest that QB Zach Wilson will be available is Week 4 at Pittsburgh. So it’s Joe Flacco time.

Just Tuesday, reports said Wilson was close to playing this week, depending on how practice went on Wednesday. That would have put him at the timetable of 2-4 weeks most outlets reported. The Athletic reported several weeks ago after the injury it could be more like 4-6 weeks, and that seems to be coming to fruition. Flacco was said to have had a nice camp so the hope is it won't be too much of a downgrade from Wilson to Flacco for all the Jet skill players.

Basically if Zach Wilson practices [Wednesday] he’ll play and if he isn’t ready to practice tomorrow he won’t. It’ll be announced [Wednesday].

HC Robert Saleh said Wilson had another good workout Tuesday and if he feels 100% and is cleared to play tomorrow, than he’ll be the starter Sunday for Week 1, the tweet went on to say. However, the team isn't going to rush him, so if he doesn't feel ready he won't play. It's a good sign he's at least close to a return, however. Reports said he would miss 2-4 weeks and he seems to be right on schedule for that at this point.

From a skill standpoint, Albert Okwuegbunam is the Broncos’ best receiving option at tight end, at least until Greg Dulcich gets more time on the field. Eric Tomlinson and Eric Saubert are blockers/short-area receivers and Andrew Beck is part tight end/part fullback.

“Albert has the ability to run away (from defenders),” Russell Wilson said during camp. “I’ve been pretty hard on him. We’ve been pushing (him) and he’s working his butt off every day.”

The story said the Broncos could prioritize targeting the TE in the red zone this year. It even had a quote from GM George Patton who said Wilson targets the TE "a lot." It added WR Tim Patrick, who is out for the year, was expected to be a key target in the red zone, but now it could be the TEs. When Dulcich is back from injury, both TEs could be on the field together. We've been on this here at 4for4, reporting earlier this summer when a beat writer wondered if Dulcich could be a player to step in for Patrick. For now, it will be Albert O until Dulcich can get back, and there seems to be a lot of hype surrounding Albert O in the fantasy community. But the return of Dulcich could eventually put a dent in Okwuegbunam's fantasy value.