According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Denver Broncos have rounded out their 10-man Practice Squad by signing former Buffalo Bills fifth-round pick running back Jonathan Williams to their roster. The Broncos are paying him a rather hefty $510,000 salary to join the Broncos. This shows there was quite the market for the former fifth-round pick.
The #Broncos are signing former #Bills RB Jonathan Williams to their practice squad, source said. He gets a whopping $510,000 salary.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 5, 2017
Williams was a rather shocking cut this weekend by the Bills who were trimming down their roster to 53 players. He was expected to serve as LeSean McCoy’s backup this season, and as Jeff Hunter of Buffalo Rumblings put it back in August, “Pegging Williams as the backup running back is just about the safest projection that can be made about the Bills roster this year”. Well, even after a strong preseason, the Bills decided to waive Williams.
Williams had 21 carries for 121 yards this preseason and also had 1 rushing touchdown. Last season for the Buffalo Bills, Williams had 27 carries in limited action for 94 yards and 1 touchdown.
He ended up being a 5th round, pick 156 selection by the Buffalo Bills in the 2016 NFL Draft. He was selected there because of his impressive college career at Arkansas. During his three-year career at Arkansas he totaled 2,321 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns. He also had 26 receptions for 345 yards and 6 touchdowns.
If Broncos are paying Jonathan Williams $510,000 for practice squad, that means he'll likely be on 53 soon. #9sports
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) September 5, 2017
As 9NEWS Denver’s Mike Klis states here, since the Broncos are paying Williams more than they were even willing to pay quarterback Kyle Sloter, it seems likely that Williams could end up on the 53-man roster sooner rather than later. If not, he will likely be scooped up by whatever team suffers an injury to one of their running backs first.
Williams joins a rather crowded Broncos backfield that has veteran’s C.J. Anderson and Jamaal Charles as the starters and former fourth round pick Devontae Booker and impressive rookie running back De’Angelo Henderson adding depth to the position as well. So it will be interesting to see where Williams fits in this rather crowded and talented group of running backs.
Now here is your entire Denver Broncos 10-man Pactice Squad
Denver Broncos 10-man Practice Squad
Player | Position | Experience |
---|---|---|
Player | Position | Experience |
Tyrqiue Jarrett | Nose Tackle | Rookie |
Austin Traylor | Tight end | 1st |
Dillon Day | Center | 1st |
Marcus Rios | Cornerback | Rookie |
Elijah Wilkinson | Offensive Tackle | Rookie |
Dymonte Thomas | Safety | Rookie |
Jerrol Garcia-Williams | Linebacker | Rookie |
Hunter Sharp | Receiver | 1st |
Deiontrez Mount | Linebacker | 2nd |
Jonathan Williams | Running back | 2nd |