Melvin Gordon re-signed with the Denver Broncos expecting a timeshare of sorts with second-year running back Javonte Williams.
Two weeks into training camp, Gordon thinks the picture might have changed.
“I think they have a plan on what they want heading in, but as far as the rotation goes, I really don’t know,” Gordon said Wednesday, per the team transcript. “I think they want ‘Vonte’ to be the guy, but we do rotate. He’ll take the first series and then the second series with the [No. 1 offense], I’ll take. Sometimes we switch, but you know kind of how it is. I don’t know how they will do the rotation.”
In 2021, Williams emerged from a backup role to earn an even split — 203 carries apiece — with Gordon, who led the team with 918 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Williams (903, four) was fourth on the team with 43 receptions and had three TD catches.
Gordon and Williams are adapting to new coach Nathaniel Hackett’s offense. Hackett takes over after serving as offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers, where Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon shared carries.
“I have to go back and look at how they did things in Green Bay with the carries and things like that. My mom says just go out here and compete and go as hard as I can,” Gordon said. “I don’t know what the future holds other than that, but I just want to put my best foot forward so when I do so out there, they go, ‘OK, we need to get him out there more.’ I know I have the game; I know I can play and I still have the juice, but we’ll see.”
Gordon, 29, signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal to come back to the Broncos based on the big picture pitch from Hackett.
“I know when I get in there, I have to make it count and that’s all that matters,” Gordon said. “I have to do what it takes — ‘Hack’ told me coming in, it’s about the Super Bowl. It’s about winning the Super Bowl and we are going to do whatever is best for the team. I’m bought into that 100 percent because I want the ring more than anything.”
–Field Level Media